Amanita pearl (Amanita rubescens)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Amanitaceae (Amanitaceae)
- Genus: Amanita (Amanita)
- Species: Amanita rubescens (Amanita pearl)
Cap: The cap is up to 10 cm in diameter. Young mushrooms have a convex shape, almost yellow-brown in color. Then the hat is darker and becomes dirty brown with a tinge of red. The skin of the cap is glossy, smooth, with small granular scales.
Plates: loose, white.
Spore powder: whitish.
Leg: leg height 6-15 cm. Diameter up to three cm. At the base, the leg thickens, the same color as the cap or slightly lighter. The surface of the leg is velvety, matte. Girdle folds are noticeable in the lower part of the leg. In the upper part of the leg there is a noticeable white leathery ring with hanging grooves.
Flesh: white, slowly turns red when cut. The taste of the pulp is soft, the smell is pleasant.
Distribution: Amanita muscaria is found quite often. This is one of the most unpretentious types of mushrooms. It grows on any soil, in any forest. It is found in summer and grows until late autumn.
Edible: Amanita rubescens is a conditionally edible mushroom. It is not used raw, it must be thoroughly roasted. Not suitable for drying, but it can be salted, frozen or pickled.
Similarity: One of the poisonous counterparts of the pearl fly agaric is the panther fly agaric, which never turns red and has a smooth ring covered with folds on the edge of the cap. A stocky fly agaric also resembles a pearl fly agaric, but its flesh does not turn red and it has a darker grayish brown color. The main distinguishing features of the pearl fly agaric is that the mushroom completely turns red, free plates and a ring on the leg.
Notes: Amanita rubescens is a conditionally edible mushroom, but it must be collected very carefully, since at some stages of growth it can be easily mistaken for dangerous species of fly agaric, the use of which can be fatal. Only seasoned mushroom pickers can collect pearl fly agarics, beginners should not risk their lives.