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Galerina sphagnova is a representative of the Stropharia family, the genus Galerina. This mushroom is quite common throughout the world, often found in the coniferous and deciduous forests of South and North America, Europe and Asia.
What does a sphagnova gallery look like?
Galerina sphagnum is a fruiting body with a pronounced cap and a thin stem, has the following characteristics:
- In young mushrooms, the cap has a conical shape, and with age it becomes hemispherical, in some cases flat. Its diameter varies from 0.6 to 3.5 cm. The color can be brown or ocher, when it dries it takes on a light yellow tint. The surface is smooth, but in young specimens, fibrous edges can be traced. It becomes sticky during heavy rain.
- Her plates are narrow and frequent. At a young age, they are painted in a light ocher color, over time they acquire a brown tint.
- Spores are ovoid, brown in color. There are 4 spores on the basidia at the same time.
- The leg of this species is hollow, even and fibrous, reaching up to 12 cm in length. As a rule, the color matches the hat. A young mushroom has a ring on its stem, which disappears rather quickly when it grows up.
- The flesh of sphagnum gallerina is thin, watery and brittle. Usually the color can be similar to the hat or lighter in several tones. The aroma and taste are almost imperceptible.
Where the sphagnum gallery grows
A favorable time for the development of sphagnova gallerina is the period from June to late autumn, however, active fruiting occurs from August. With a warm, long autumn, this specimen can be found even in November. For them, coniferous and deciduous forests, as well as marshlands, are preferable. They grow mainly on decayed wood of deciduous and coniferous species, on stumps and moss-covered soil. They can grow both individually and in small families. This species is quite common, and therefore can be found in almost any corner of the world, perhaps with the exception of only Antarctica.
Is it possible to eat sphagnum gallerina
Despite the fact that sphagnum gallerina does not belong to the category of poisonous, it is not an edible mushroom, since it does not represent any nutritional value. Experienced mushroom pickers do not recommend experimenting and using it for food, since the toxic properties of this species have not been fully studied. I should also be alerted by the fact that most mushrooms of the Galerina genus are poisonous and can cause serious damage to the body.
How to distinguish from doubles
Quite often, novice mushroom pickers confuse the specimen in question with edible mushrooms. To avoid misunderstandings, it is necessary to pay attention to the following features of these types.
- If a dubious specimen was found in a coniferous forest, then the mushroom picker deals with the gallery. You should know that mushrooms do not grow in this area, and for the species in question, the coniferous forest is a favorite place.
- As a rule, sphagnum gallerina grows singly or in small clusters, and mushrooms prefer to be located in groups.
- Another difference is the honey agaric ring. It should be borne in mind that a young sphagnum gallerina can also have it, however, when growing up, the ring quickly disappears and only a small trace remains of it.
Conclusion
Galerina sphagnum is a common species that can be found almost anywhere in the world. However, this specimen is an inedible mushroom and, accordingly, is not recommended for consumption. Despite the fact that its toxicity has not been proven, you should not put yourself at risk. In the search for edible forest products, you should be as careful as possible so as not to bring an underexamined specimen by mistake. If there is even the slightest doubt about the mushroom found, it is better to leave it in the forest.
