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The oblong golovach is a representative of the genus of the same name, the Champignon family. The Latin name is Calvatia excipuliformis. Other names - elongated raincoat, or marsupial.
What does an oblong bighead look like
In the photo of the oblong head, you can see a large mushroom, outwardly resembling a large mace or a white pin. Fruit bodies are easy to spot on the forest floor due to their unusual shape. They often reach from 7 to 15 cm in height, under favorable conditions - up to 17-20 cm.
A hemispherical apex is located on the long leg of the oblong head
The fruiting body has thickenings (up to 7 cm) and narrower areas (2-4 cm). Young specimens are colored tobacco brown. With age, the surface brightens and becomes covered with thorns of various sizes.
In the early stages of growth, the flesh of the elongated bighead is elastic in structure, but over time it becomes flabby and yellowish, and then turns into a brown powder.
The top of mature specimens completely crumbles, spores begin to be released, and the stalk itself remains intact for a long time.
You can find detailed information about the mushroom in the video:
Where and how it grows
The oblong raincoat grows both as single specimens and in small groups in the European part of Russia, in the Far East and Siberia. The species is found in forests of various types in clearings and forest edges. The beginning of the fruiting period is in the middle of summer. Mushrooms can be harvested until the second half of autumn.
Is the mushroom edible or not
The oblong golovach belongs to the edible category. For culinary purposes, it is best to use young specimens, with a light and firm pulp. As with all edible raincoats, the fibrous stem and hard exoperidium must be removed prior to use.
Doubles and their differences
Due to its large size and specific shape, it is rather difficult to confuse the mushroom with other species. However, unformed specimens may be similar in appearance to other varieties of raincoats:
- Pear-shaped raincoat - the main double, a representative of the conditionally edible category. The fruiting body is pear-shaped and has a pronounced "pseudo-leg", which is hidden in the substrate and makes the fruit body visually rounder. Reaches 3 to 7 cm in diameter and 2 to 4 cm in height. With age, the color becomes dirty brown, and the surface is smoother. The pear-shaped raincoat is covered with a thick skin that can be easily removed. The pulp is characterized by a pleasant mushroom flavor and aroma. The species is widespread in deciduous and coniferous forests, the fruiting period begins in mid-July and lasts until the end of September. Only mushrooms with light elastic pulp are suitable for consumption.
Young specimens have a light coloration and a prickly surface.
- Sack-shaped head (bubble-shaped, round) - a representative of the edible group. The fruit body is round in shape and reaches 10 to 20 cm in diameter. Young specimens are white, which gradually turns into gray-brown, bumps and cracks appear on the surface. The tops of matured mushrooms are destroyed with the release of spores. The sack-shaped head can be found in clearings, forest edges and meadows. Distributed singly, fruiting time begins in May and lasts until September.
The mushroom is flattened at the top and narrowed at the bottom.
- Thorny raincoat - mushroom of the edible group. Differs in life expectancy and some structural features.
Spores of the prickly raincoat are located in the hole at the apex, which almost completely disappears in the oblong head
Conclusion
The oblong golovach is an edible mushroom that can be found both in the forest and in a clearing or forest edge. It has an unusual shape, the top of the fruiting body collapses with age, leaving only a brown spore powder. It is best to use young specimens with white elastic flesh for cooking.
