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Lepiota acute squamosa or Lepiota aspera, despite its external similarity with edible umbrellas, itself scares away mushroom pickers with its unpleasant aroma.
Lepiota acute-scaly is also called the acute-scaled or rough umbrella.
The first mentions date back to 1793. The species was described by microbiologist H. G. Person. And the mushroom received its modern name thanks to another scientist - the Frenchman Lucien in 1886.
What do lepiots sharp scales look like?
A description of the rough lepiota will help to distinguish it from the edible umbrella and champignons.They are from the same family.
hat
First of all, this concerns the size and shape of the hat. Even in an adult lepiota acute scales, it is small, no more than 4-5 cm in diameter.
Young fruiting bodies are distinguished by a bell-shaped cap, similar to an umbrella. On the top of the head there is a brown-brown tubercle characteristic of the species. The surface is somewhat lighter, with scales resembling pyramids scattered on it. But they do not adhere to the cap, but puff up, the edges are sharp. This part of the fruiting body has a dense consistency, but breaks easily.
Spore layer
Spore-bearing layer in the form of plates. In young lepiots it is not visible due to the frequent white cover. As it grows, the leathery film breaks, part of it remains on the cap. A ring forms on the stem.
The frequent plates are thin and unevenly located. The color palette ranges from white to dark yellow, depending on the age of the umbel roughis.
Leg
The leg of Lepiota rougha has a regular cylindrical shape with a thickening near the ground in the form of a tuber. The height of this part is 8-12 cm, thickness is 7-15 mm. It is distinguished by a dense fibrous structure, with emptiness inside.
Above the ring there are stripes on a white background. The lower part of the leg is rough, yellow or brown with scales. Closer to the base they turn brown.
Pulp
The pulp is white or grayish. It remains like this even on a fault. There is no milky juice in the fruiting body. It is dense fibrous, with an unpleasant odor and a sharp, pungent taste.
Where do lepiotes grow?
Rough umbrellas are autumn mushrooms.Fruiting begins in August and lasts until frost. They grow on fertile soils and rotting garbage. You can meet:
- in mixed forests;
- near roads;
- in park areas;
- on the lawns.
The mushroom is rare, growing singly or in a small group.
Is it possible to eat lepiots sharp scales?
Lepiota acuminata is a poisonous mushroom, so it is not eaten. But it contains antibacterial substances. An extract is prepared from fruiting bodies that can destroy E. coli and subtilis.
Symptoms of poisoning
When poisoned by the scaly umbrella, especially when drinking alcohol, a throbbing headache begins, redness appears on the face, and tachycardia is felt. After a few hours, the symptoms disappear. But if you drink an alcoholic drink again, everything starts all over again. This connection between lepiota and alcohol-containing substances was discovered by doctors from Germany in 2011.
They studied several patients who presented after mushroom poisoning. In three out of five cases, the cause of the malaise was precisely the lepiots, which were consumed together with edible mushrooms and even with alcohol.
First aid for poisoning
At the first symptoms of poisoning, you should call an ambulance and record the time of onset of the illness. Rinse the patient's stomach with plenty of water, induce vomiting and give sorbents. Most often you have activated carbon on hand.
In severe cases, you can give an enema.After providing first aid, you need to put the patient to bed until the doctors arrive. Self-medication is strictly prohibited, as this may worsen the situation.
Conclusion
Lepiota acute scale belongs to the category of fruiting bodies hazardous to health. Only beginners can take a mushroom with an unpleasant odor into the basket. This is why you need to be careful in the forest. If you come across an unfamiliar mushroom, it is better to pass by it so as not to harm your health.
