Content
Lyophyllum armored is a rare lamellar mushroom of the Lyophyllaceae family, genus Ryadovka. It is large in size, with an irregularly shaped brown cap. Grows in large, close groups on trampled soil. Its other name is armored row.
What do armored lyophyllums look like?
The cap of the armored row grows up to 4-12 cm in diameter, less often up to 15 cm. In young specimens it is spherical, opens as it grows, first becomes hemispherical, then spread out, sometimes depressed. In mature ones it is uneven. The surface is smooth, with radial fibrousness. Old lyophyllums have wavy edges.The color of the cap varies from light brown to almost black. It gradually fades from rain, humidity and sun.
The spore-bearing plates have a medium frequency. In young ones they are white, gray or gray-beige, in mature ones they are gray-brown. They can be accrete or descending.
The spore powder is whitish, light yellow or light cream. The spores are smooth, colorless, spherical in shape.
The height of the leg is 4-6 cm, can reach 8-10 cm, diameter is 0.5-1.5 cm. The shape depends on the growing conditions, it is often curved. In natural conditions it is usually central, sometimes a little eccentric. If the mushroom grows on dense trampled soil or mown grass, its length is from 0.5 cm. It can be eccentric, almost lateral or central. The leg is fibrous, closer to the cap it is white or gray-beige, brownish below. Its surface is powdery. In mature specimens, the color of the stem is grayish-brown.
It has dense, elastic, cartilaginous flesh that makes a squeaking noise when cut. The color is white, brownish under the skin. In mature specimens, the flesh is beige or gray-brown, elastic, watery. Lyophyllum has a faint, pleasant mushroom smell.
Where do testicle lyophyllums grow?
This species grows in European countries, including Russia, as well as in North America and northern Africa. More often found outside the forest zone. It settles on lawns, in parks, in grass, on slopes, paths, clearings, embankments, and next to curbs. It can be found in a meadow or field, less often in deciduous forests and on their outskirts.
The mushrooms grow together at the base of their stalks in several specimens (10 or more), forming close groups.If they settle on a trampled area or mown lawn, their colony resembles a dense shell.
Is it possible to eat testa lyophyllum?
Lyophyllum is a conditionally edible species. Its taste is low due to its dense and elastic pulp, so it is of no culinary interest.
False doubles
Lyophyllum crowded - one of the similar species. It grows in the same conditions and bears fruit at the same time. The main difference is in the records. In a crowded plant they are weakly adherent or loose. Other distinctive features are quite conventional. The crowded one has a lighter cap, the flesh is softer and does not creak. The mushroom is edible, much tastier than its relative, and when fried it resembles chicken.
Another double - oyster mushrooms. These are edible, widely known mushrooms. Externally, they are almost the same as the armored row, but differ in the place of growth. Oyster mushrooms do not grow on the ground, preferring wood, so in nature these two species cannot be confused. Among the external signs, the plates should be noted - in lyophyllum they break off abruptly, in oyster mushrooms they smoothly turn into a stalk.
Lyophyllum smoky gray differs from its counterpart in its place of growth, it is found in coniferous forests, it has a lighter cap and a long stem. It is considered conditionally edible.
Collection rules
Fruits in autumn. It can be collected from late September to November.
Use
This mushroom is prepared in a universal way. A mandatory boiling time of 20 minutes is recommended. Then you can fry or stew.
Conclusion
Lyophyllum armored is a little-known conditionally edible mushroom that grows in close fused groups. It has a feature that sets it apart from others: it can grow in hard-packed soil and under borders.
