Blackthorn (Entoloma sepium)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Entolomataceae (Entolomaceae)
- Genus: Entoloma (Entoloma)
- Species: Entoloma sepium (Blackthorn)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Entoloma sepium
- Entoloma light brown
- Entoloma pale brown
- Smoky
Synonyms:
Entoloma light brown
Entoloma pale brown
Smoky
Ternovik
External description
The cap of entoloma sepium reaches a diameter of 10-15 cm. At first it looks like a flat cone, and then it expands or becomes prostrate, has a small tubercle. The surface of the cap is slightly sticky, becomes silky when dry, contains fine fibers, is yellowish or yellowish-brown, and can also be brownish-gray. It brightens when dry.
The blackthorn has a leg up to 15 cm in height and 2 cm in diameter. At the beginning of development, it is solid, then it becomes hollow. The shape of the stem is cylindrical, sometimes curved, with longitudinal fibers, shiny. The color of the leg is white or creamy white.
The plates of the mushroom are wide, descending, first white, and then cream or pink. Old mushrooms have pinkish brown plates.
The pulp is white, dense, has a flour smell and is practically tasteless.
Spores are angular, spherical, reddish, pink spore powder.
Spread
Blackthorn forms mycorrhiza with fruit trees: common apricot and Djungar hawthorn, can grow next to plum, cherry plum, thorn and other similar garden trees and shrubs. It grows on mountain slopes, but can also be found in cultivated plantations (gardens, parks). Often forms scattered groups. The growing season starts at the end of April and ends at the end of June.
This mushroom is found in Kazakhstan and the Western Tien Shan, where symbiont trees grow. She loves to grow on the northern slopes of the mountains, in gullies and ravines.
Edibility
The mushroom is edible, it is used to prepare the first and second courses, but it tastes best when pickled.
Similar species
This mushroom is similar to the garden entoloma, which spreads under other trees. May mushroom is also slightly similar, which is also edible.
This species is less known than the garden entoloma, which is found almost everywhere, while the sepium entoloma is difficult to find.