Macrolepiota procera
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Agaricaceae (Champignon)
- Genus: Macrolepiota (Macrolepiota)
- Species: Macrolepiota procera (Macrolepiota procera)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Colorful umbrella
- Umbrella
- Big umbrella
- Umbrella high
Synonyms:
Umbrella
Big umbrella
Umbrella high
- Macrolepiota procera
Photo by: Valery Afanasyev Hat:
At the umbrella, the cap is 15 to 30 cm in diameter (sometimes up to 40), first ovoid, then flat-convex, outstretched, umbrella-shaped, with a small tubercle in the middle, whitish, white-gray, sometimes brown, with large lagging brown scales. In the center, the cap is darker; scales are absent. The pulp is thick, loose (in old age, it happens, quite "cotton"), white, with a pleasant taste and smell.
Plates:
Macrolepiota procera has attached to the collarium (cartilaginous ring at the junction of the cap and leg), the plates are creamy white at first, then with reddish veins.
Spore powder:
White.
Leg:
Macrolepiota procera has a long stem, sometimes 30 cm or more, up to 3 cm in diameter, cylindrical, hollow, thickened at the base, hard, brown, covered with brown scales. There is a wide white ring, usually free - you can move it up and down the leg if someone suddenly wants it.
Spread:
Macrolepiota procera grows from July to October in forests, in clearings, along roads, in meadows, fields, pastures, in gardens, etc. In favorable conditions, forms impressive "witch rings".
Similar species:
The red umbrella (Macrolepiota rhacodes) looks like a motley umbrella, which can be distinguished by its smaller size, smooth stem and reddening pulp on a break.
Edibility:
It is considered an excellent edible mushroom. (I would argue with the epithet.) Western eccentrics claim that the legs of a variegated umbrella are inedible. A matter of taste…
Remarks
Under favorable conditions, in tall grass, a variegated umbrella can reach amazing heights. What are there 30 centimeters! In the light semi-pine forests on the left bank of the Oka, I met umbrellas indistinguishable from the high stool in the bar. It's even strange to take such. You just don't know how to approach them. The very idea of looking for mushrooms as fun with a basket is being questioned.