Meadow (Marasmius oreades)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Marasmiaceae
- Genus: Marasmius (Negniichnik)
- Species: Marasmius oreades (Meadow)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- Meadow honey
- Meadow grass
- Marasmius meadow
- Clove mushroom
Other names:
Meadow grass
Marasmius meadow
Meadow
Clove mushroom
Agaricus oreades
External description
Hat:
The diameter of the cap of the meadow mushroom is 2-5 cm (there are also larger specimens), in youth it is conical, then it opens to almost prostrate with a blunt tubercle in the center (old dried specimens can also take a cupped shape). The color under normal conditions is yellowish brown, sometimes with a faint zoning; when dry, the cap often takes on a lighter, off-white color. The pulp is thin, pale yellow, with a pleasant taste and a strong peculiar smell.
Plates:
Meadow honeydew has rare plates, from adherent at a young age to free, rather wide, whitish-cream.
Spore powder:
White.
Leg:
Height 3-6 cm, thin, fibrous, whole, very hard in adult mushrooms, cap color or lighter.
Spread
Meadow honey agaric occurs from early summer to mid or late October in meadows, gardens, glades and forest edges, as well as along roads; bears fruit abundantly, often forming characteristic rings.
Similar species
Meadow honeydew is often confused with wood-loving colibia, Collybia dryophylla, although they are not very similar - colibia grows exclusively in forests, and its plates are not so rare. It would be dangerous to confuse the meadow mushroom with the whitish talker, Clitocybe dealbata - it develops in about the same conditions, but it is given out by rather frequent descending plates.
Edibility
A versatile edible mushroom, also suitable for drying and soups.
Remarks
Perhaps in some places there is a real cult of meadow honey. People specially take scissors with them and cut circles in the fields, cutting small fragrant mushrooms from the grass. I am ready to believe it: it is not for nothing that in the literature there are so many recommendations on the method of collecting and processing this nondescript fungus. Indeed, meadow mushroom is certainly tasty and in all respects a pleasant mushroom.
My impression of this representative of a glorious family of non-snakes was simple and unambiguous. Once I picked a couple of these mushrooms and for scientific purposes put them on a leaf under a cup to see what kind of powder. A few hours later I open it - and there is no trace of the hats, only a ball of worms swirling around hideously.