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Omphalina umbrella - a representative of the Tricholomovy family or Ryadovkovye, the genus Omphalin. Has a second name - Lichenomphalia Umbrella. This species demonstrates an example of a successful cohabitation of algae with basidiospore fungi.
Description of the omphaline umbrella
It belongs to the group of lichens, but unlike the usual lichenized mushrooms, the fruit body of the omphaline umbrella is presented in the form of a cap and a leg. The lichenized part is on the same substrate as the specimen itself, in the form of a thallus, which contains unicellular algae of the genus Coccomyxa.
The color of the flesh of this species coincides with the cap, varies from light yellow to greenish brown. Spores are elliptical, thin-walled, smooth and colorless, 7-8 x 6-7 microns in size. Spore powder is white. It has an unexpressed smell and taste.
Description of the hat
The young specimen is distinguished by a bell-shaped hat, with age it becomes prostrate with a concave center. Omphaline umbellate is characterized by a very small cap. Its size varies from 0.8 to 1.5 cm in diameter. As a rule, the edges are thin, ribbed and grooved. Most often it is painted in white-yellowish or olive-brown tones. On the inner side of the cap there are rare, pale yellow plates.
Thallus - Botrydina-type, consisting of dark green spherical granules, the size of which reaches about 0.3 mm, forming a dense mat on the substrate.
Leg description
The omphaline umbellate has a cylindrical and rather short leg, the length of which reaches no more than 2 cm, and the thickness is about 1-2 mm. It is painted in a yellow-brown shade, smoothly turning into a lighter one to its lower part. The surface is smooth, with white pubescence at the base.
Where and how it grows
The optimal growing time is from July to October. Prefers coniferous and mixed forests. Lichenomphalia umbelliferous most often grows on rotten stumps, tree roots, old valezh, as well as on living and dying mosses. Mushrooms can grow either one at a time or in small groups. Despite the fact that this species is considered quite rare, the umbrella omphaline can be found on the territory of Russia. So, this species was seen in the Urals, the North Caucasus, Siberia, the Far East, as well as in the northern and middle zone of the European part.
Is the mushroom edible or not
There is little information on the edibility of the umbelliferous omphaline. However, there is information that this specimen does not represent culinary value, and therefore is inedible.
Doubles and their differences
Omphalina umbrella has external similarities with the following species:
- Lichenomphalia alpine belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms, differs from the umbellate omphaline in small lemon-yellow fruit bodies.
- Omphalina crynociform - an inedible mushroom. It prefers to live in the same areas as the species in question.However, the double can be distinguished by the larger size of the fruiting body and the red-brown color of the cap.
Conclusion
Umbelliferous Omphaline is a lichen, which is a symbiosis of green algae (phycobiont) and fungus (mycobiont). It is rare, but this specimen can be found in mixed and coniferous forests of Russia. Considered inedible.
