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Often in the forest, on old stumps or rotten trees, you can find groups of small, thin-legged mushrooms - this is Mycena oblique. Few people know what kind of species this is and whether its representatives can be collected and used for food. Its description will help you understand this.
What do tilted mycenae look like?
Inclined Mycena (Mycena inclinata, another name is variegated) belongs to the Mycena family, the genus Mycena. The mushroom is known thanks to the description of the Swedish scientist E. Fries, published in the 30s. XIX century Then the species was mistakenly attributed to the Chapmignon family, and only in 1872 was its affiliation correctly determined.
The cap of young specimens resembles an egg in appearance, which, as it grows, becomes bell-shaped, with a slight elevation in the center.Next, the surface of the mushroom becomes slightly convex. The outer edges of the cap are uneven and jagged. The color can be several options - grayish, muted yellow or light brown. In this case, the color intensity weakens from the center to the edges. The size of the cap is small and averages 3 - 5 cm.
The lower part of the fruiting body is very thin (size does not exceed 2 - 3 mm), but strong. The length of the stem can reach 8 - 12 cm. At the base, the color of the fruiting body is reddish-orange. The upper part changes with age from white to brown. Near the ground, several fruiting bodies often grow together.
You can get to know the mushroom better from the video review:
The flesh of the mushroom is white and very fragile. It is distinguished by a sharp rancid taste and a subtle unpleasant odor.
The plates are not located too often. They grow to the stem and are characterized by a creamy-pinkish or grayish color. Spore powder is beige or white.
The inclined variety of mycena can be confused with others - spotted and cap-shaped:
- Unlike the inclined one, the spotted one has a pleasant mushroom aroma. There are also differences in appearance - the edges of the cap of the spotted variety are smooth, without teeth, and the lower part is completely colored red-brown.
- The bell-shaped variety is more difficult to distinguish from the tilted one. Here you need to focus on the color of the leg - the first one is brownish below and white on top.
Where do mycena obliques grow?
Mycena oblique belongs to the decomposer fungi, that is, it has the property of destroying the dead remains of living organisms. Therefore, its usual habitat is old stumps, fallen deciduous trees (mainly oaks, birches or chestnuts).It is almost impossible to encounter a solitary mycena growing alone - this mushroom grows in large heaps or even entire colonies, in which young and old mushrooms that differ in appearance can coexist.
The distribution area of variegated mycena is quite wide: it can be found in many countries of the European continent, as well as in Asia, North America, northern Africa and Australia.
The harvest period occurs in the second half of summer and lasts until the end of autumn. Mycena oblique produces fruit every year.
You can get to know the mushroom better from the video review:
Is it possible to eat inclined mycenae?
Mycena oblique does not contain any toxic substances. Despite this, it is classified as an inedible mushroom, which is prohibited for consumption. This is due to the rancid taste of the pulp and an unpleasant pungent odor.
Conclusion
Mycena oblique is a commonly found forest mushroom that performs the important job of cleaning the forest by destroying dead parts of trees. Despite the absence of toxins in the composition, the mushroom is inedible and unsuitable for food.
