Content
It is not for nothing that Mycena Shishkolyubivaya received such an interesting name. The fact is that this specimen grows exclusively on spruce cones. It is also called mycena sulfur because of its characteristic mouse color. It is considered one of the first spring mushrooms, since it begins its development in March. Represents the Mycene family, the Mycena genus.
What do mycenae look like
At the initial stage of development in this species, the cap is hemispherical; a little later it becomes practically prostrate with a distinct tubercle in the center. It is rather small in size, since its diameter is no more than 3 cm. The skin of the cap is smooth, shiny in dry weather, and slimy during the rainy season. It has a brown-brown color, which fades to a gray or light brown shade during the maturation of the mushroom. The plates are not frequent, wide, adherent with a tooth. At a young age, they are white, then they acquire a gray-brown color.
Mycena pineapple-loving has a thin, hollow, cylindrical stem. It is characterized as a silky and shiny, dark gray or brown shade. The width of the leg is about 2 mm in diameter, and the length varies from 2 to 4 cm, but most of it is hidden in the soil. At the base there may be growths of mycelium, which look like a small cobweb.
The pulp of this species is brittle and thin, the plates are visible at the edges. As a rule, it has a grayish color and exudes an unpleasant alkaline odor. Spores are amyloid, white, like spore powder.
Where the pineapple mycenae grow
This variety actively begins its development from March to May, therefore it is one of the first spring cap mushrooms. It grows exclusively on fir cones. Gives preference to coniferous litter. It is a fairly common species, but it is not always visible to the human eye, since it likes to hide in the ground. In this case, the pineapple-loving mycena looks squat.
Is it possible to eat pineapple mycenae
There is no information on the edibility of this mushroom. There is an assumption that the pineapple mycena is an inedible specimen due to its inherent chemical smell of alkali.
In cooking, this species is not of interest, both because of its unpleasant aroma and because of the small size of the fruit bodies. The facts of the use of pineapple mycena have not been registered, and there are no recipes for cooking from this ingredient.
How to distinguish
It is worth noting that many small mushrooms have similarities to the pineapple mycene, which, as a rule, are also inedible. So, a striking example is alkaline mycene. It has a strong and unpleasant odor reminiscent of ammonia. However, it is quite easy to distinguish the species under consideration from the twin, since only the pineapple mycene is found on spruce cones.
Conclusion
Pine-loving mycena is a small brown-colored mushroom that grows directly on spruce cones, which can be completely submerged under the ground or protrude above the surface. In general, this specimen does not carry any nutritional value, and therefore is not of interest. Despite the fact that this species is quite common and is often found in various regions, on the territory of Moscow, the pineapple-loving mycena is endangered. That is why in the capital this mushroom is listed in the Red Book, and measures have been taken to preserve the species.
