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Variable crepidotus (Crepidotus variabilis) is a small tree fungus from the Fiber family. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it had other names:
- Agaricus variabilis;
- Claudopus variabilis;
- Claudopus multiformis.
This oyster-shaped fruiting body belongs to the vast species of Crepidots.
What the mutable crepidots look like
These fruiting bodies belong to the Hat variety with a rudimentary or completely absent stem. Attached to the surface of the substrate with the side part or top, plates downwards.
The diameter of the fruiting body is from 0.3 to 3 cm, some specimens reach 4 cm. The shape is an irregular shell or lobe with edges curved in a wave. The cap is whitish-cream or yellowish delicate color, tomentose, with a smooth edge, dry, thin, with weakly expressed fibers.
The plates are sparsely located, large, of various lengths, converging to the attachment point. The color is white, after which it darkens to grayish-brown, pinkish-sandy, lilac. There are no bedspreads. The spore powder is green-brown, pinkish, cylindrical in shape, with thin warty walls.
Where the volatile crepidots grow
The fungus belongs to saprophytes. It grows on decaying wood residues: stumps, trunks of fallen trees. Prefers hardwood. Often found in dead wood on thin twigs. It can also grow on a rotten branch or in rotten hollows of a living tree. Grows in large groups, close to each other, less often at a short distance.
The mycelium bears fruit throughout the warm season, from the moment the air warms up to an acceptable temperature, this is May-June, until the autumn frosts.
Is it possible to eat the volatile crepidota
The fruit body has a delicate pulp with a slightly sweetish taste and an unexpressed pleasant mushroom smell. It is not poisonous, no toxic substances were found in the composition. It is classified as an inedible mushroom due to its small size.
How to distinguish Crepidota mutable
The fruit body bears great resemblance to other members of its species. A characteristic feature of each species is the structure of the spores, which can only be distinguished under a microscope. It has no poisonous counterparts.
- Unfolding (versitus). Not poisonous. It is distinguished by a white color, an even shell-like shape with a brown junction.
- Flattened (applanatus). It is not toxic. Watery, moist, the edges of the cap are bent inward, fluffy fibers are located at the site of attachment to the substrate.
- Soft (mollis). It is distinguished by a smoother shape of a cap with scales, a brownish color, an edge at the junction and a very delicate pulp.
Comment! Soft crepidote is classified as conditionally edible mushroom. Little known for mushroom pickers because of its small size.
- Caesata... Non-toxic, classified as inedible mushrooms. It differs in sparser and thicker plates, a light edging and a slightly wavy, slightly curled inward edge.
The changeable crepidote is also similar to the edible oyster mushroom or common.The latter is distinguished by a pronounced elongated attachment to the substrate, an even rounded cap and larger sizes - from 5 to 20 cm.
Conclusion
Variable crepidote is a miniature tree fungus-saprophyte, found everywhere in Europe, on the territory of Russia and America. Loves shaded places, lives on the remains of representatives of the Notofagus family and other deciduous species. Less often it settles on coniferous wood or in dead woods. Due to its size and low nutritional value, it is classified as an inedible mushroom. No poisonous twins were found in the fruiting body.
