Content
Stropharia hemispherical or Treschling semicircular is a common inhabitant of manured fields where livestock regularly grazes. Light yellow caps on thin and long stems immediately catch the eye. However, there is no need to rush to collect these mushrooms - they are inedible and, when consumed, cause hallucinations.
What does stropharia hemisphericus look like?
Hemispherical stropharia (lat. Stropharia semiglobata) belongs to the agaric or lamellar mushrooms of the Strophariaceae family.It is a fragile-looking small fungus on a disproportionately long stalk.
Description of the cap
The cap of the hemispherical stropharia at a young age has the shape of a sphere; as the fruiting body grows, it transforms into a hemisphere without a tubercle in the center, and almost never opens completely. If you make a longitudinal section of the cap, you will get an even semicircle, as if outlined by a compass. The diameter of the cap is more than modest - only 1-3 cm. The upper part of the cap is smooth, and in rainy weather it is covered with a thin layer of mucus.
The color of the hat can be:
- light yellow;
- ocher;
- lemon;
- light orange.
The center is colored more intensely; remnants of the bedspread may be present at the edges. The pulp is yellowish-white.
The back side of the cap is represented by a hymenophore made of sparse wide plates attached to the stalk. In young mushrooms they are colored grayish, in mature specimens they acquire a dark brownish-violet color.
The spore powder is olive-colored at first, but becomes almost black as it matures. The spores are smooth and shaped like an ellipse.
Description of the leg
The leg of Stropharia hemispherical is prohibitively long relative to the cap - 12-15 cm. In rare cases, it grows straight, more often curved and slightly swollen at the base. The leg is hollow inside. In young stropharia, a leathery ring can be distinguished, which quickly disappears with age. The surface of the leg is mucous and smooth to the touch, closer to the base it is finely scaly. The leg of the hemispherical stropharia is colored in yellow tones, but somewhat lighter than the cap.
Where and how does it grow
Hemispherical stropharia is found in all regions of Russia. Usually grows in pastures, fields, along forest roads and paths. Prefers rich, manured soils and can settle directly on a manure heap. In most cases it grows in groups, the fruiting period is from mid-spring to late autumn.
Doubles and their differences
Thanks to its yellow-lemon or honey color, it is difficult to confuse stropharia hemisphericus with other mushrooms. It is most similar to the inedible golden bolbitus (Bolbitius vitellinus), which also prefers to settle in meadows and fields flavored with animal excrement. In this species, the plates retain their color even in old age and do not turn black - this is the main difference between Bolbitus.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Stropharia hemisphericus is an inedible hallucinogenic mushroom. Its activity is low and may not manifest itself at all, however, it is better to refrain from eating it.
The impact of hemispherical stropharia on the body
The chemical composition of Stropharia semiglobata contains the hallucinogen psilocybin. It causes psychological dependence in a person; its effect on the mind is similar to LSD. Emotional experiences can be both positive and negative. A mushroom eaten on an empty stomach can cause dizziness, tremors of the legs and arms, and unreasonable fear within 20 minutes. Drug symptoms appear later.
With regular consumption of mushrooms containing psilocybin, a person can experience irreversible psychological changes, in some cases this threatens the complete destruction of the personality.In addition to the negative impact on the psyche, hallucinogens have a detrimental effect on the functioning of the heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
Conclusion
Stropharia hemispherica is a common inedible mushroom that should be avoided. Tiny, seemingly harmless mushrooms can cause serious harm to the human body.
