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After the revision in the classification, the girl's umbrella mushroom was assigned to the genus Belochampignon of the Champignon family. Known in scientific writings as Leucoagaricus nympharum or Leucoagaricus puellaris. Previously, mycologists called the mushroom the maiden's umbrella Macrolepiota puellaris, considering it a subspecies of the blushing umbrella.
Fringed hats of girls' umbrellas are held on graceful, thin legs
Where does the girl's umbrella mushroom grow?
The species is common in Eurasia, but it is extremely rare. Especially in the European territory of Russia. More often, graceful representatives of a rare species can be seen in the forests of northwestern Europe, as well as in the Far East. Fruiting bodies of small white mushrooms are found from August to October:
- in pine forests;
- forests where coniferous and deciduous species grow side by side;
- in fertile meadows.
What a girl's umbrella looks like
The variety of white mushrooms has medium sizes:
- cap width from 3.5 to 9-10 cm;
- the height of the leg is rarely higher than 15 cm, usually within 6-11 cm;
- leg thickness up to 9-10 mm.
The mushroom that emerged from the ground at first resembles an egg in shape. Then the veil breaks, the cap grows, becomes bell-shaped, and later opens completely, remaining slightly convex and with a low tubercle in the middle. The white skin is covered with light fibrous scales, except for the darker center of the cap. The thin border of the upper part is fringed. In old mushrooms, the scales turn brown.
Narrow fibers of white scales form a fringe on top of the cap
The pulp is white, thin-fleshy, with a faint radish odor. At the point of detachment from the leg, it turns slightly red after cutting. Densely spaced plates are not attached to the cap, they are freely separated from the pulp. On young fruit bodies, the plates are white, with a barely noticeable pinkish tint. When damaged and with age, they turn brown. Spore powder is white-cream.
The base of the fungus is thickened, without a volva, a thin stem narrows towards the apex, sometimes bends. The fibrous stem is hollow inside, with a whitish, smooth surface that turns brown with age. The remnants of the original veil transformed into a wide and movable ring with a wavy, fringed border due to the flaky plaque.
Is it possible to eat a girl's umbrella
The mushroom is edible, in terms of nutritional value, like all umbrellas, it belonged to the 4th category. But now, in many regions, the white champignon variety is included in the number of protected wildlife objects.
False doubles
A girl's umbrella mushroom, even according to the photo and description, looks like a blushing umbrella, also edible.
A striking difference between blushing umbrellas is a change in pulp on the cut
Is different:
- a lighter hat;
- graceful, medium-sized fruiting bodies;
- the pulp turns red slightly compared to the double.
Collection rules and use
A small species of the genus Belochampignon is rare, therefore the law provides protection, prohibiting its collection. In many regions, in addition to common ones - across Russia and Belarus, the mushroom is listed in the local Red Data Books:
- Adygea, Bashkortostan, Tuva;
- Astrakhan, Kemerovo, Saratov, Sakhalin regions;
- Primorye and Khabarovsk Territory.
If harvesting is allowed, mushrooms are fried, boiled, pickled.
Conclusion
Umbrella mushroom girlish really amazes with grace. The pulp is edible, but the species belongs to the objects of nature protected by law. Therefore collection is not recommended.
