Content
The goblet lobe is a representative of the genus of the same name, the Helvellaceae family. Other names are Helvella goblet or Acetabula vulgaris. The mushroom belongs to the conditionally edible category.
What do goblet lobes look like?
The diameter of the fruiting body is from 2 to 5 cm. The mushroom has a fleshy-leathery structure and a cup-shaped shape, which gradually expands as it grows.
The edges of the cap are often wavy or lobed
The edges of the cap are often wavy or lobed
The inner surface is smooth to the touch, with a hymenial layer.Its color varies from brown-ocher to brown. The outer surface has a lighter color and a granular-fine-scaly rough structure.
The goblet lobe is distinguished by a thick, relatively long wrinkled stalk from 1 to 3 cm in height.
The inside of the leg is hollow; on the outer whitish part you can see ribbed longitudinal protrusions
The mushroom pulp has no characteristic taste or aroma and has a very thin and brittle structure. The size of colorless spores is 14-18 * 8-12 microns. With a characteristic oval smooth shape, they are located in one row.
You can see the appearance of the mushroom in more detail in the video:
Where do goblet lobes grow?
Goblet lobes are quite rare and grow singly or in small colonies. Distributed in oak forests. The period of active fruiting begins in May and lasts until June. The main growing areas are Europe, Asia and North America.
Is it possible to eat goblet lobes?
The species belongs to the conditionally edible group. Fruiting bodies can be eaten only after preliminary heat treatment.
Almost all representatives of the Helwellian family are characterized by the content of toxic substances. Some species may contain dangerous elements such as gyrometrine or muscarine, which cannot be completely removed from the fruiting bodies.
False doubles
The main false twin of the species is Kele's lobe. It can be distinguished by its specific shape in the form of a bowl flattened on the sides and a developed leg.
The outer surface of the cap has a dark gray, yellowish-gray, brown or brownish-gray color.
When the mushroom dries, its color changes to a lighter color, and a grayish or whitish granular coating of conical tufts of short hairs appears on the surface. The inside of the cap is smoother in structure, with a brown-gray, dark brown or completely black color.
Collection rules
Mushroom pickers recommend avoiding the goblet mushroom due to the content of toxic substances in the composition and the low nutritional value of the mushroom. Even prolonged heat treatment cannot guarantee the removal of all poisons, which is why eating the fruiting body can cause poisoning.
If the Helvella goblet still ends up in the mushroom basket, it must be boiled immediately after collection. Otherwise, the mushrooms will begin to quickly deteriorate, which increases the concentration of toxins.
Use
If you want to use the glass lobe for culinary purposes, it is important to remember that consuming specimens raw is strictly prohibited: this will cause serious poisoning. Mushrooms must be boiled for 20-30 minutes and only then added to various dishes. The product can be used for frying, drying, and also as an ingredient in salads.
Conclusion
The goblet is a conditionally edible mushroom that grows in the oak forests of Europe, Asia and North America. It can be distinguished by its light wavy cap and thick, slightly wrinkled stem. The fruiting bodies of this species contain toxins, which is why the mushroom can be eaten only after long-term heat treatment.
