Taxonomy:

• Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
• Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
• Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
• Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
• Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
• Family: Agaricaceae (Champignonaceae)
• Genus: Leucoagaricus (White champignon)
• View: Leucoagaricus nympharum (Maiden's parasol)

Synonyms:

Leucoagaricus puellaris

(lat. Leucoagaricus nympharum) is a mushroom of the champignon family. In older taxonomy systems, it belonged to the genus Macrolepiota and was considered a species of blushing umbrella mushroom. It is edible, but since it is rare and subject to protection, it is not recommended to collect it.

Description of the girl's umbrella
The cap of the maiden's umbrella is 4-7 (10) cm in diameter, thinly fleshy, initially ovoid, then convex, bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped, with a low tubercle, the edge is thin, fringed. The surface is very light, sometimes almost white, the tubercle is brownish, bare, the rest of the surface is densely covered with large fibrous scales, at first they are white or light walnut in color, then darken, especially in the center of the cap.

The flesh of the cap is white, at the base of the stem it turns slightly red when cut, with a radish smell and without a pronounced taste.

The stalk is 7-12 (16) cm high, 0.6-1 cm thick, cylindrical, tapering upward, with a tuberous thickening at the base, sometimes curved, hollow, fibrous. The surface of the leg is smooth, whitish, becoming dirty brownish over time.

The plates are frequent, free, with a thin cartilaginous collarium, with a smooth edge, easily separated from the cap. Their color is initially white with a pinkish tint; it becomes darker with age; the plates turn brown when touched.

Remains of the bedspread: the ring at the top of the leg is whitish, wide, mobile, with a wavy edge, covered with a flake-like coating; Volva is missing.

The spore powder is white or slightly creamy.

Ecology and distribution
Maiden's umbrella grows on the soil in pine and mixed forests, in meadows, appears singly or in groups, is rare. Distributed in Eurasia, known in the British Isles, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Ukraine, and the north of the Balkan Peninsula. In Russia it is found in the Primorsky Territory, Sakhalin, very rarely in the European part.

Season: August - October.

Similar species
(Chlorophyllum rhacodes) with a darker-colored cap and flesh that is intensely colored when cut, and larger in size.

Species in the Red Book
In many regions of distribution, the maiden umbrella is rare and requires protection. It was listed in the Red Book of the USSR, now - in the Red Book of Russia, Belarus, and in many regional Red Books.

Number: in all regions the number is small and subject to significant fluctuations.

Kingdom: Division: Basidiomycetes Class: Agaricomycetes Order: Agariaceae Family: Champignonaceae Genus: White champignon Species: Maiden's umbrella mushroom

Scientific name - Leucoagaricus nympharum (Kalchbr.) Bon, 1977

Macrolepiota puellaris (Fr.) Mos.

Description. Humus saprophyte. The vegetative body is a branched mycelium located in the soil or substrate. From August to September, fruiting bodies consisting of a cap and a stalk develop on the surface of the mycelium. The cap is 4-10 cm in diameter, at first ovoid, spherical, then convexly spread, umbrella-shaped, white, in the middle with a pale brownish, barely protruding, bare tubercle; the surface of the cap is covered with lagging scales, the edge is fringed; the plates are free, with a smooth edge, white, later light pinkish, becoming dirty brown when touched.

The stalk is tapering upward, tuberously thickened below, glabrous, at first dirty white, then dirty brown, fibrous, with an apical widely lagging white ring; The flesh is white, at the base of the stem at the break it turns slightly red, with the smell of radish, without much taste. On the underside of the cap, spore-forming organs are formed in the layer of plates.

Distribution and habitat. In Russia only in the Far East (Primorsky Territory). It is also observed in Ukraine and the Baltic states. In the Saratov region it is found in the Saratov district in the deciduous forest.

Limiting factors. Habitat disturbance and soil compaction.

Security measures taken and required. Included in the Red Book of the RSFSR. It is necessary to search for new locations and monitor the state of the species, and artificial cultivation of the fungus in protected areas.

Information sources: 1. Vasilyeva, 1978; 2. Dudka, Wasser, 1987; 3. Komirnaya, Kostetsky, unpublished. data; 4. Plants, 1988. Authors and compilers: O.N. Komirnaya, O.V. Kostetsky.

The parasol mushroom is edible, but extremely rare and requires protection. Listed in the Red Book.

Description

The girl's umbrella mushroom resembles a lace accessory in appearance, which is probably how it earned its name.

hat

The cap of a girl's umbrella can reach 10 cm in diameter, but is usually slightly smaller (about 7 cm).

In young specimens, the cap resembles an egg in shape, then its edges gradually open and the shape becomes bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped.

A faint tubercle is located centrally. The edges of the cap are thin and “lacey” (these are the remains of the bedspread). The same fragments cover the entire surface of the cap, except for the tubercle.

At first these scaly outgrowths white, but with age they turn brown starting from the center.

Leg

The leg of a girl's umbrella is long and graceful. Its approximate dimensions are 16*1 cm in length and thickness, respectively. At the bottom, the leg widens slightly and forms a kind of tuber. Often the umbrella leg is curved. Contains a cavity inside. At first the color of the stem is white, but over time it turns brown. The surface of the leg is smooth. In the upper third there is a white “lace” ring of torn velum.

Spore-bearing layer

The spore layer of the umbrella is made of plates. The plates are frequently located, moderately thick, pink in young mushrooms, darkening with age.

They react to mechanical stress by darkening to brown.

Pulp

The flesh of the girl's umbrella is tender, white, and becomes reddish when cut. The pulp of the umbrella does not have a special taste, but it emits a pronounced rare smell.

Spore powder

The spores are relatively small, almond-shaped, with a pore and a fluorescent inclusion, individually colorless, in bulk the powder is creamy-white.

Distribution and collection

Habitat of the maiden's umbrella - row European countries, on Russian territory- only in the Far Eastern region. But even in places of distribution it is rare, therefore it is a Red List species.

Fruiting in this species is observed from late summer to mid-autumn.

Similar species

The maiden umbrella mushroom has a rather specific appearance, so it is difficult to confuse it with any other mushroom.

But there are related species:

Previously, it was even believed that the maiden umbrella was a type of blushing umbrella. It is larger in size and more dark color. When cut, it intensively changes color towards red tones. This species is also edible, but there is information that its consumption in some individuals can cause allergies in the form of urticaria, as well as mild digestive disorders.

It has even larger sizes and does not turn red when cut. It is edible, considered one of the best umbrellas, you can eat it either fried or raw (in this form it is used in sandwiches and salads).

1-Blushing umbrella 2-Motley umbrella

• Elegant umbrella

About the same size as a girl's, but has a more pointed tubercle and more open edges (in mature age). This species is also edible.

• Chlorophyllum lead-slag

Poisonous look. Growing in the USA. It differs from the girl’s umbrella in that when mechanically applied it does not turn brown, but turns red, and also contains a spore powder that is not creamy-white, but greenish-brown.

• Chlorophyllum dark brown

It is a poisonous species, has a darker color, and turns red when exposed to mechanical stress. According to some sources, this mushroom has a mild hallucinogenic effect. The scales of this mushroom are larger, and the stem is stockier.

1-Elegant umbrella 2-Chlorophyllum lead-slag 3-Chlorophyllum dark brown

It should be noted that poisonous varieties do not grow in Russia. Their habitat is the USA and some European countries.

Edibility

The maiden umbrella mushroom is quite edible, but extremely rare, so collecting it is not recommended. It is considered more suitable for food; its taste is valued above other umbrellas.

The parasol was recognized as a rare and endangered species of mushroom back in the USSR, then it was included in the Red Book in Russia, Belarus, as well as a number of regional Red Books.

Girlish umbrella mushroom ( lat. Leucoagaricus puellaris) is a mushroom of the champignon family. In older taxonomy systems it belonged to the genus Macrolepiotes ( Macrolepiota) and was considered a type of blushing umbrella mushroom. It is edible, but since it is rare and subject to protection, it is not recommended to collect it.

Description:

The cap of the maiden's umbrella is 4-7 (10) cm in diameter, thinly fleshy, initially ovoid, then convex, bell-shaped or umbrella-shaped, with a low tubercle, the edge is thin, fringed. The surface is very light, sometimes almost white, the tubercle is brownish, bare, the rest of the surface is densely covered with large fibrous scales, at first they are white or light walnut in color, then darken, especially in the center of the cap.

The flesh of the cap is white, at the base of the stem it turns slightly red when cut, with a radish smell and without a pronounced taste.

The stalk is 7-12 (16) cm high, 0.6-1 cm thick, cylindrical, tapering upward, with a tuberous thickening at the base, sometimes curved, hollow, fibrous. The surface of the leg is smooth, whitish, becoming dirty brownish over time.

The plates are frequent, free, with a thin cartilaginous collarium, with a smooth edge, easily separated from the cap. Their color is initially white with a pinkish tint; it becomes darker with age; the plates turn brown when touched.

Remains of the bedspread: the ring at the top of the leg is whitish, wide, mobile, with a wavy edge, covered with a flake-like coating; Volva is missing.

The spore powder is white or slightly creamy.

Ecology and distribution:

Maiden's umbrella grows on the soil in pine and mixed forests, in meadows, appears singly or in groups, and is rare. Distributed in Eurasia, known in the British Isles, France, Germany, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Ukraine, and the north of the Balkan Peninsula. In Russia it is found in the Primorsky Territory, Sakhalin, very rarely in the European part.

Season:

August - October.

Similar species:

The blushing umbel (Chlorophyllum rhacodes) has a darker-colored cap and intensely colored flesh when cut, and is larger in size.

Species in the Red Book

In many regions of distribution, the maiden umbrella is rare and requires protection. It was listed in the Red Book of the USSR, now - in the Red Book of Russia, Belarus, and in many regional Red Books.

Number:

in all regions the number is small and subject to significant fluctuations.

The umbrella mushroom is mostly an edible mushroom, although it also has poisonous doubles, as well as inedible varieties. The mushroom belongs to the department Basidiomycota, class Agaricomycetes, order Agariaceae, family Champignonaceae. Some umbrella mushrooms belong to the genus umbrella mushroom, or macrolepiote ( Macrolepiota). The other part of the mushrooms belongs to other genera.

The Latin name macrolepiota is formed by combining the ancient Greek word "macro", meaning "large", and the name of the genus Lepiota. And the mushroom was nicknamed “umbrella” due to its long thin leg, topped with a characteristic domed hat, reminiscent of an open umbrella in outline.

Umbrella mushroom: photo, description, characteristics

Many types of umbrella mushrooms - edible mushrooms, and some varieties are even delicacies.

The umbrella mushroom has a cap-peduncle structure. fruiting body with average and large sizes. The diameter of the cap of some species reaches 35 cm, and the stem can be up to 40 cm long.

The cap of a young umbrella mushroom has an ovoid or hemispherical shape, expanding over time and becoming flat or resembling a wide bell.

The main color of the skin is whitish. In the center of the cap of all representatives of the genus, a low dark elevation is clearly visible. As the mushroom grows, the skin of the cap cracks, forming scales.

The stem of the umbrella mushroom is straight or slightly curved, hollow, easily separated from the cap, and in most specimens there is a noticeable tuberous thickening at the base.

The flesh of the mushrooms is fleshy, dense, and sometimes colored when cut.

Often located plates can be white or cream in color.

They darken with age.

The ring is filmy, white or brownish in color, easily moves, in most mushrooms it is wide, white on top, may be darker below.

Volva is missing. Spore powder is cream or white in color.

Where do umbrella mushrooms grow?

The umbrella mushroom grows on all continents except Antarctica. Most species are typical saprotrophs, prefer light, open areas of forest, clearings and edges, often found in fields, steppes and meadows, personal plots and in greenhouses.

Edible umbrella mushrooms: types, photos and names

Initially, the genus Macrolepiota included a larger number of species, but over time some of the fungi were assigned to other genera. Below is a description of several types of umbrella mushrooms:

• aka field umbrella mushroom(Macrolepiota excoriata)

edible mushroom. A fairly common soil saprotroph that grows in steppes, in open areas of mixed and coniferous forests, along clearings, in clearings and pastures. Porcini umbrella mushrooms grow in groups and singly, bearing fruit from early summer to October. Umbrella mushrooms can be distinguished by a thick, fleshy cap with a diameter of 6-12 cm. At first, the cap has an elongated, ovoid shape, then it gradually flattens and becomes flat-spread, but a large dark tubercle remains in the middle. The skin of the cap is beige or whitish, strewn with thin scales, and the center of the cap is always brown and smooth. The edge of the cap is formed by white fibers that look like flakes. When cut, the flesh of the cap does not change color.

The height of the leg is from 6 to 12 cm, thickness is from 0.6 to 1.2 cm, there is a slight thickening at the base. The stem of the field umbrella mushroom is hollow, white and smooth inside, yellowish under the “skirt” and to the base, and becomes brownish when touched. The plates of young mushrooms are white, becoming creamy or brownish with age. The pulp is white, with a pleasant aroma and slightly tart taste.

The white umbrella mushroom is widespread throughout Europe, in some Asian countries (Iran, Turkey), in Siberia and the Far East, on both American continents, as well as in Africa and on some islands (Cuba, Sri Lanka). It is a delicacy mushroom in Chinese cuisine.

Beginner mushroom pickers need to keep in mind that the field umbrella mushroom can be confused with a deadly dangerous mushroom- stinking fly agaric, which has a sac-like cover on the leg, often immersed in the ground, and a white mucous cap, sometimes strewn with membranous flakes.

• Elegant umbrella mushroom (thin umbrella mushroom)(Macrolepiota gracilenta)

an edible mushroom that grows in grassy, ​​open landscapes forest areas, as well as in fields and meadows. Found in close groups and singly from late summer to October.

The appearance of the umbrella mushroom matches its name: a thin, sometimes curved stalk, 10 to 15 cm high and 0.8 to 2 cm thick, crowned with a bell-shaped cap, which becomes almost flat with age. In the center of the whitish cap there is a brownish tubercle. The surface of the cap is covered with yellowish scales. The diameter of the cap of the graceful umbrella mushroom is 5-15 cm. Under the cap there is a wide white ring, "skirt". The leg is light, club-shaped, thickened at the base, covered with yellowish or brown scales, and darkens with age. The flesh of the umbrella mushroom is white, aromatic, and pleasant to the taste. Volva is missing.

The graceful umbrella mushroom is found in most European countries, with the exception of the Scandinavian, Balkan Peninsula and Belarus. Distributed in Asia from Transcaucasia to Primorsky Krai, in North America, Australia and Africa.

• (Macrolepiota konradii)

edible mushroom, grows on grassy soils in forested areas from early summer to October.

The cap of young mushrooms, fleshy and thin at the edges, is ovoid, round or bell-shaped; it straightens with age, but a small papillary tubercle remains in the center. The skin is whitish or dirty gray, brownish-black in the center and may have a pinkish tint. The silky skin ends before reaching the edges. The pulp does not change color when cut.

The height of the leg is 7-15 cm, the diameter of the leg is from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. The leg itself is brownish, club-shaped and thickened below, sometimes covered with brownish scales over time. The “skirt” is wide, mobile, light on top, brownish below. Volva is missing. The pulp is pleasant to the taste and aromatic, in young specimens it is white, with age the edges of the cap darken. The plates of the umbrella mushroom are white or cream-colored, wide and frequent.

Conrad's umbrella mushrooms grow in Europe and Asia, both in coniferous and deciduous and mixed forests.

• (Macrolepiota mastoidea)

edible mushroom, grows in open, grassy landscapes, confined to oak, beech and pine forests, from late summer to October.

Young mushrooms have a bell-shaped cap, which over time expands to an umbrella-shaped one. The edge of the cap is turned up, wavy, and a protruding, pointed tubercle is clearly visible in the middle. The whitish skin in the center is darker; as the mushroom grows, it becomes covered with beige scales with a coating of granular flakes, densely located in the center and sparse at the edges. The diameter of the umbrella mushroom cap varies from 7 to 12 cm. The stem is slender, hollow inside, with a slight expansion at the base, brownish-white in color, strewn with small scales of brown or yellow color. The height of the leg is 7-16 cm, its diameter is from 0.3 to 0.6 cm. The plates of the umbrella mushroom are soft and thick, white or cream in color. The ring of the umbrella mushroom is located directly under the cap, wide, with a light fringe. Volva is missing. The pulp is dense and tender, white in color, with a mushroom aroma and a slight nutty taste.

The mastoid umbrella mushroom grows throughout Europe, except France and the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as in Asia, the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and northern Africa.

• Variegated umbrella mushroom (large, tall umbrella mushroom)(Macrolepiota procera)

edible mushroom, a typical saprotroph, growing in open, sandy areas: on forest edges, clearings, pastures, in gardens and orchards. It grows from early summer to November, singly or in sparse families, often forming rows and “witch circles.”

Externally, the variegated umbrella mushroom is noticeably different from representatives of its genus. This is a large mushroom with a high and thick stem: the length of the stem can reach 40 cm (on average 10-30 cm), and the thickness ranges from 1-2 to 4 cm. The stem of young mushrooms is completely brown, turns brown with age and is covered with rings of dark scales, overlapping each other, which makes it very reminiscent of snake skin. Under the cap there is a wide membranous ring. Young umbrella mushrooms have a spherical cap, which over time takes the shape of a wide cone or a convex umbrella with a dark tubercle in the middle. The brownish-gray cap is strewn with loosely removable angular dark brown scales. The diameter of the cap is from 20 to 35 cm. The plates of the fungus are wide, white, darken in older individuals and form a cartilaginous formation near the stem. Volva is missing. The variegated umbrella mushroom has light, fleshy flesh with a pleasant nutty taste and a faint aroma.

In Europe and North America, the variegated umbrella mushroom is widespread; on other continents it predominates in the northern climate zone.

• Blushing umbrella mushroom (shaggy)(Chlorophyllum rhacodes)

an edible mushroom that belongs to the genus Chlorophyll. It grows in open forest glades rich in humus, as well as in steppes, vegetable gardens and parks from June to late autumn (until November).

The mushroom got its name due to the color change: on sections, the color of the pulp becomes red-brown, and when pressed, the plates change from white to orange-red. The blushing umbrella mushroom has a fleshy cap with a diameter of 10-20 cm, spherical at the beginning of growth and bell-shaped or completely flat with a barely noticeable tubercle in older specimens. Over time, the folded edges of the cap straighten out and become covered with cracks. The skin is grayish or beige, with a dark center and a circular arrangement of scales. The leg is long, up to 25 cm in diameter, on average about 10-15 cm in diameter and up to 2 cm in width. At the base, the mushroom stalk has a characteristic thickening. The ring is movable, membranous, white on top, brownish below. Volva is missing. The blushing umbrella mushroom has a pleasant but mild taste and a bright mushroom aroma.

A typical mushroom of the northern temperate zone of all continents.

• (Leucoagaricus nympharum, Leucoagaricus puellaris)

an edible mushroom, formerly classified in the genus Macrolepiotes and considered the closest relative of the blushing umbrella mushroom. Currently assigned to the white champignon genus. Very rare view The umbrella mushroom, taken under protection, is found in pine and mixed forests and fields from late summer to October.

Like all umbrellas, the mushroom cap first has the shape of an egg, later it becomes convex, like a bell or an umbrella, leaving a low elevation in the center. The skin is almost white, covered with light or cream scales, the tubercle is darker and bare. The diameter of the umbrella mushroom cap is from 4 to 7 cm, rarely up to 10 cm. The flesh of the cap turns slightly red where it separates from the stem. The stem is straight and smooth, tapering upward; in young mushrooms it is white, but with age it becomes dirty brown. The height of the stem reaches 7-16 cm, thickness up to 1 cm. The plates are white in a young mushroom, then darken and turn brown when touched. The ring is white, movable, with a fringed edge. Volva is missing. The maiden umbrella mushroom smells like radish and has no distinct taste. The flesh of the cut mushroom turns red at the base.

Maiden's umbrella mushrooms grow in Eurasia; they are extremely rare in the European part of Russia, common only in the Primorsky Territory and Sakhalin.

Inedible and poisonous umbrella mushrooms: types and photos

Among the umbrellas there are not only edible, but also inedible, as well as poisonous mushrooms of the genus Lepiota, a description of which is presented below:

• Lepiota comb (combed silverfish, combed umbrella) ( Lepiota cristata, Agaricus cristatus)

inedible mushroom, sometimes defined as poisonous.

The mushroom cap is from 2 to 5 cm in diameter, bell-shaped in young mushrooms and convex-spread in mature specimens. The color of the cap is red-brown, its surface is covered with pointed, sparsely spaced scales of a yellow-orange or ocher tone. The stem of the poisonous umbrella mushroom is thin, hollow, up to 8 cm high, up to 0.5 cm in diameter, cylindrical in shape, slightly widened at the base. The color of the leg varies from yellowish to light cream, the ring is whitish or pinkish, very narrow and disappears quite quickly. The pulp of the mushroom is white, fibrous, has sour taste and sharp, unpleasant smell.

The poisonous comb umbrella mushroom is a typical representative of the northern zone with temperate climate.

• Lepiota chestnut (chestnut umbrella) ( Lepiota castanea, Lepiota ignipes)

poisonous mushroom with a cap with a diameter of 2-4 centimeters, having a reddish-brown tint. The shape of the cap is ovoid in young umbrellas and prostrate in adult mushrooms. With age, the smooth skin of the cap cracks into small chestnut-colored scales. The cylindrical leg of the chestnut umbrella is slightly expanded and pubescent at the base, the flesh of the mushroom is white, fragile, with an intense unpleasant odor. The flesh of the leg has a reddish-brown tint. The ring is narrow and white in color and disappears quite quickly. Thin and frequent plates of the fungus are initially white, which turns yellow over time.

The poisonous chestnut umbrella mushroom grows in temperate climates, is widespread in Europe, and is often found in Western and Eastern Siberia.

• Lepiota rougha (umbrella sharp-scaled) (Lepiota aspera, Agaricus asper, Lepiota acute squamosa)

inedible mushroom. The mushroom cap is fleshy, from 7 to 15 cm in diameter, yellowish-brown or brick-colored. In young specimens, it is fleecy-felt, egg-shaped, with age it becomes prostrate and covered with scales of a rusty hue. The leg, 7-12 cm high and 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, has the shape of a cylinder, at the base there is a swollen tuber-shaped formation. The color of the leg is light yellow, with slightly noticeable stripes. The film ring is quite wide, white, with barely visible brown scales. The plates are frequent, white or yellowish in color. The pulp of the mushroom has a pronounced unpleasant odor, is sharp and bitter in taste.

Inedible sharp-scaled umbrella mushrooms grow in European countries, North America and in the northern part of the African continent. They bear fruit from August to October.

False umbrella mushroom, photo and description

U edible umbrella mushrooms There are also poisonous doubles, descriptions and photographs of which are presented below:

• Chlorophyllum molybdites)

poisonous mushroom, very similar to an umbrella. The cap is white, covered with pinkish-brown scales, from 7 to 30 centimeters in diameter, initially spherical, becoming almost flat with age. The stalk of the poisonous mushroom is smooth, 10-25 cm in height, from 1 to 3 cm in diameter, turns brown in places of damage, and has a ring in the upper part. The pulp is white, sometimes becomes reddish when cut, and has no pronounced taste or smell. The stem-free plates are white, changing color to grayish-green or olive with age. When pressed, the plates turn yellow or brownish.

The false umbrella mushroom grows in the United States, Australia, Africa, and Eurasian countries.

• Chlorophyllum brunneum)

a poisonous mushroom, very similar to an umbrella mushroom. A mushroom with a fleshy scaly cap of brown color, reaching a diameter of 9-15 cm. The stem is white, becomes gray-brown with age, cylindrical in shape, thick and rather short. At the base of the leg there is a peculiar tuberous growth up to 6 cm in diameter. The flesh of the mushroom is white; when broken, it turns slightly reddish or orange.

According to some reports, the mushroom has a hallucinogenic effect; its toxic properties have not been fully studied. These false umbrella mushrooms grow in the USA, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

• Panther fly agaric (gray) ( Amanita pantherina)

a deadly poisonous mushroom with an initially hemispherical and then flat brown-brown cap, covered with whitish scales in the form of flakes. The diameter of the glossy and shiny cap is from 4 to 12 cm. The leg of the panther fly agaric is 1-1.5 centimeters in diameter, up to 12 cm high, at the bottom it has a tuberous thickening and a ring, which is sometimes absent. The hymenophore is lamellar, white, sometimes with brownish spots. The flesh of the mushroom is white, does not change color when broken, has an unpleasant odor and a slightly sweetish taste.

Panther fly agaric is growing massively in the countries of the Northern Hemisphere.

• , aka white grebe ( Amanita virosa)

A highly toxic mushroom, the accidental consumption of which in almost 90 cases out of a hundred leads to death, and only in 10 cases causes very serious poisoning.

All parts of the mushroom usually have an off-white or grayish tint. The cap is covered with flakes, in young specimens it is conical or hemispherical in shape, becoming slightly convex with age. The color of the white grebe's cap can vary from pure white to a grayish or pinkish color. The leg of the stinking fly agaric is from 10 to 15 cm in height and from 1 to 2 cm in diameter, cylindrical in shape, covered with a coating in the form of flakes, and has a tuberous thickening at the base. The ring on the stem is filmy, disappears quite quickly, and only its fibrous fragments remain on it. The pulp is white when broken, with a very unpleasant chlorine odor.

The stinking fly agaric is widespread in Eurasian countries, ranging from the northern part of France to the territory Far East, found in the mountainous regions of Central and Southern Europe.

Useful properties of umbrella mushroom

Thanks to its excellent taste, the umbrella mushroom is a favorite item for quiet hunting. It is better to collect umbrella mushrooms when they are young. In addition, they must be subjected to thorough heat treatment. Very young umbrellas are successfully pickled, mature mushrooms are dried, salted and boiled, after which they are used to prepare broths, sauces, main courses, salads and fillings for pies and pancakes.

Umbrella mushrooms contain many beneficial health benefits. human body substances:

• vitamins of group B, as well as C, E, K;
• potassium (up to 16%), sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus;
• tyrosine;
• arginine;
• beta glucans;
• melanin.

According to traditional healers, extracts and tinctures from umbrella mushrooms, as well as direct consumption of these mushrooms, help fight a number of serious ailments, including:

• vascular and heart diseases;
• rheumatism;
• nervous system disorders;
• oncological diseases.

Due to their low calorie content, umbrellas are included in various diets, including those for obesity and diabetes mellitus.

Harm and contraindications of umbrella mushrooms

The use of umbrella mushrooms is contraindicated for:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract,
• pancreatitis,
• pregnant women,
• children under 5 years old.

Be careful: never pick mushrooms near roads, industrial enterprises, or garbage dumps. Mushrooms growing in such places absorb toxic substances from the soil that can harm your health!

• Due to the bactericidal properties of the umbrella mushroom, it is believed that the powder from the dried legs cleanses and improves the health of the air in a living room.
• In Italy, young specimens of the variegated umbrella mushroom are called “drumsticks” (Italian: mazza di tamburo).
• Despite the excellent taste and mass useful properties, many, including experienced mushroom pickers, are prejudiced against umbrellas and avoid this mushroom.