Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Phallomycetidae (Veselkovye)
- Order: Phallales (Merry)
- Family: Phallaceae (Veyolkovye)
- Genus: Phallus (Veselka)
- Species: Phallus ravenelii (Veselka Ravenelli)
Synonyms:
- Aedycia ravenelii
Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) is a mushroom that belongs to the Veselkov family and the Phallus genus (Veselok).
External description
Initially, the shape of the Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) resembles a pinkish, lilac or purple egg. The “egg” develops rapidly, grows in breadth, and as a result, a fruiting body, shaped like a phallus, grows out of it. The yellowish-white stem of the mushroom is crowned with a cap the size of a thimble. Its width varies from 1.5 to 4 cm, and its height is from 3 to 4.5 cm. The total height of the fruiting body can reach 20 cm. The surface of the cap in Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) is fine-grained, and its edges are connected to the stem by a peri-cap ring. In some specimens, the cap is too wide and takes on a conical shape. the color of the cap can vary from olive green to dark brown in different specimens.
The mushroom leg is hollow, it can reach a height of 10-15 cm, and its diameter varies within 1.5-3 cm. It is white or whitish-yellow in color.
Veselka Ravenelli's spores (Phallus ravenelii) are characterized by thin walls and a sticky surface, elliptical, smooth, colorless, 3-4.5 * 1-2 microns in size.
Season and habitat of the fungus
Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) is widespread in eastern North America. Dominates among other species west of the Mississippi, found in Costa Rica.
The described species belongs to sapbiotics, therefore it can grow in any habitat where rotting wood is present. The fungus grows well on rotten stumps, wood chips, sawdust. Veselka Ravenelli can often be seen in groups, but there are also specimens growing separately. the species is also common in city flower beds, lawns, meadows, park areas, forests and fields.
Edibility
Veselki Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) are considered edible only at a young age, when they look like an egg. Mature specimens exude an unpleasant odor, so seasoned mushroom pickers prefer not to collect them for food.
Similar types and differences from them
Veselka Ravenelli (Phallus ravenelii) is often confused with Phallus impudicus and Phallus Hadriani. P. Impudicus differs from the described species in the reticular structure of the cap, the surface of which is covered with alternating grooves and ridges. As for the main difference of P. Hadriani, it is the presence of seeds on the cap. This species, in contrast to the Ravanelli jolly, can be found very rarely.
Another similar mushroom belongs to the species Itajahya galericulata. It has a spherical cap, the surface of which is covered with several layers of spongy tissue, between which a loose inner tissue is clamped - gleb.
The next species, similar to the one described, is called Phallus rugulosus. This mushroom is thin, it has a higher height, a light orange color of the fruiting body, a stem that tapers near the cap and a smooth surface of the cap itself. It grows in China, as well as in the southern and eastern parts of the United States.
granulosodenticulatus is a species of Brazilian mushroom that is rare and similar in appearance to Ravanelli. Its fruit bodies are smaller and do not exceed 9 cm in height. The cap has a serrated edge, and the spores are large, 3.8-5 * 2-3 microns in size.
Other information about the mushroom
Mushroom gleb gives off a characteristic unpleasant odor that attracts insects to the plant. they sit on sticky, spore-bearing areas of the fruiting body, eat, and then transfer fungal spores on their paws to other places.