Merry Hadrian (Phallus Hadriani)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Phallomycetidae (Veselkovye)
- Order: Phallales (Merry)
- Family: Phallaceae (Veyolkovye)
- Genus: Phallus (Veselka)
- Species: Phallus Hadriani (Hadrian's Merry)
Veselka vulgaris is a fairly popular and well-known mushroom, but it has a slightly less pleasant "relative" that is extremely reminiscent of it - Veselka Hadrian .
Veselka Hadrian (lat.Phallus Hadriani) initially has an oblong ovoid fruit body (about 4-6 cm in diameter), which is completely or half of it is in the ground.
The color of the shell of the mushroom is usually pink or purple. The lower part of Veselka Hadrian is folded and ends with pink strands of mycelium. This is by no means the final "form" of the mushroom, but Veselka has been in this state for a very long time.
Then the shell bursts, at a rate of several centimeters per hour, the growth of a white porous leg with a dark wrinkled cap begins. The mushroom can grow up to 20 cm in height. The hat is shaped like a bell; pieces of the shell remain on the top, covered with mucus. At the base there is a wide, gelatinous pink volva - the remains of an egg.
The flesh of a young mushroom is initially dense and white, covered with a mucous membrane, the inner layer is greenish. However, then Veselka acquires a terrible smell that can attract flies.
Phallus Hadriani is quite rare. It grows in deciduous forests or gardens, mainly in sandy soil. Groups of mushrooms are rare. Spores are spread from July to October.
The mushroom is similar to the common Veselka (Phallus impudicus), but the egg is white or yellowish, and the cap is pointed. It also resembles Mutinus caninus (Mutinus caninus), but it is much smaller, and Mutinus has an orange hat.
Until the flesh of the mushroom has darkened, it can be eaten. For example, an egg can be fried internally. But the taste of Merry Hadrian is by no means pleasant. Moreover, the edible portion is quite small. Therefore, it makes no sense to cook this mushroom.
The medicinal properties of Veselka Obyknovnaya are also inherent in Veselka Hadrian.