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Cystoderma granulosa belongs to the class Agaricomycetes, family Champignonaceae, genus Cystoderma. This species was first described in 1783 by the German biologist A. Beach.
What does cystoderm granulosa look like?
This is a small fragile lamellar mushroom with a rounded convex cap, which straightens as it grows, maintaining a slight elevation in the middle.
Description of the cap
The cap of cystoderm granulosa has the shape of an egg, it is convex, tucked inward, its surface is warty, covered with flakes, and there is a fringe along the edges. In older specimens it is flat-convex or flat with a bulge in the center, covered with dry, fine-grained skin, sometimes with scales, wrinkles or cracks.
The color is ocher or reddish-brown, sometimes with an orange tint. The caps are small, ranging from 1 to 5 cm in diameter. The plates are frequent, wide, free, yellowish or creamy white.
The pulp is light (yellowish or whitish), soft, thin, odorless.
Description of the leg
The stalk is 2-8 cm in height and 0.5-0.9 cm in diameter. It has a cylindrical shape and can expand towards the base. The leg is hollow, with a matte dry surface, smooth at the top, with scales at the bottom. The color is like a hat, only lighter, or purple. The stalk has a reddish ring with a granular structure, which disappears over time.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
It is considered a conditionally edible mushroom.
Where and how does it grow
Cystoderma granulosa is widespread in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Grows in colonies or singly. It is found on mosses and soil mainly in deciduous forests. Sometimes found in coniferous and mixed species. Prefers to settle on paths, the outskirts of forests, pastures overgrown with bushes. Fruiting season is from August to October.
Doubles and their differences
The closest relative is Cystoderma cinnabar-red. It is distinguished by its larger size and beautiful coloring. The cap can reach 8 cm in diameter. It is bright, cinnabar-red, darker towards the center, with granular-mealy skin, white flakes along the edges. At first it is convex, with the edge turned inward, but with growth it becomes prostrate-convex, tuberculate, with a fringe along the edge. The plates are pure white, weakly adherent, thin, frequent, and creamy in mature specimens.
The leg is 3-5 cm long and reaches 1 cm in diameter. It is hollow, thickened at the base, and fibrous.The ring is red or light, granular, narrow, and most often disappears with growth. Above the ring the leg is light, bare, below it is reddish, granular-scaly, lighter than the cap.
The pulp is whitish, thin, reddish under the skin. Has a mushroom smell.
It grows mainly in coniferous forests with pine trees, found in groups or singly. Fruiting season is July-October.
Cystoderma cinnabar-red is a rare edible mushroom. It is recommended to eat fresh after boiling for 15 minutes.
Conclusion
Cystoderma granulosa is a little-known conditionally edible mushroom. It is most common in North America, but is also quite rare there.
