Cap-shaped mycena: what it looks like, how to distinguish it, photo

Cap-shaped mycena is an inedible representative of the Mitsenov family. It grows in small families in mixed forests, bears fruit throughout the warm period. In order not to confuse the view with edible specimens, you need to carefully read the external characteristics, view photos and videos.

What do cap-shaped mycenae look like?

Acquaintance with a forest dweller should begin with a description of the fruiting body. The hat of young specimens is bell-shaped, as it grows up it straightens a little, in full maturity it takes the form of a wide bell with a small mound in the center. The radially ribbed surface, up to 6 cm in diameter, is colored from gray-brown to light pink. The whitish flesh is fragile and thin, with a powdery taste and smell. With mechanical damage, the color does not change.

The lower layer is formed by narrow, loose plates of off-white color. Reproduction occurs by microscopic smooth spores, which are located in a whitish powder. Cylindrical leg of the correct form, 10 cm high. The structure is hollow, brittle, rigid. The surface is colored to match the cap, but closer to the base it becomes light brown with clearly visible characteristic hairs.

Inedible but not poisonous

Where do bell-shaped mycenae grow?

Mycena cap-shaped is ubiquitous. Prefers to grow near rotting coniferous and deciduous trees. They can also be seen on stumps, wood substrate, dead wood. Grows in groups, bears fruit from June to November.

Is it possible to eat bell-shaped mycenae

This representative of the mushroom kingdom is inedible, but not poisonous. Due to the lack of nutritional value, the mushroom is not used in cooking. But if the cap-shaped mycena somehow got on the table, then it will not cause food poisoning.

All members of this genus grow on dead wood and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. There are many types of mycenae, but all of them mostly belong to cap-shaped and inclined mycenae. In one colony, both young representatives and fully mature ones are found. As they grow older, mushrooms change shape and color, which misleads mushroom pickers. The bell-shaped mycena differs from its counterparts in the color of the plates and the presence of transverse veins between them.

In order not to harm your body and not to collect toxic specimens, you must carefully study the external data. The cap-shaped mycena has similar counterparts, such as:

1. alkaline – an inedible representative with a hemispherical, then outstretched hat. The thin surface is painted with cream-chocolate or fawn tones. The leg is long, hollow, much lighter than the cap, at the base, spider web fibers are visible. It bears fruit all summer, grows in large families on spruce cones and coniferous substrate.
   
   

   Grows on dead wood

2. threadfoot – an inedible specimen with a conical light or dark brown cap. In dry weather, a silvery coating appears on the surface. The smooth leg is thin and long, painted snow-white on top, closer to the base it becomes coffee-like with pronounced whitish fibers. The gray flesh is fragile, tasteless and odorless. In fully ripened specimens, the flesh exudes a strong iodine aroma. It grows on deciduous and coniferous substrate, prefers fertile soil. Occurs singly and in small groups. Fruiting from May to July.
   
   

   Due to the lack of taste and smell, the mushroom is not eaten.

3. Dairy – this species, despite the absence of taste and smell, is eaten. You can recognize it by a small, bell-shaped hat, thin stem, gray-coffee color. It grows in mixed forests on rotten wood. Fruits all summer. In cooking, it is used in fried, stewed and canned form. Since the genus has poisonous counterparts, the collection of these representatives of the mushroom kingdom should be carried out by an experienced mushroom picker.
   
   

   Nice, miniature look

4. Net – a hallucinogenic, poisonous forest dweller. The fruit body is small, the surface is mucous, light chocolate in color. The cylindrical stem is thin, fragile, 10 cm long. Fruits on dead wood, from May to July. Since the species can be harmful to health, during mushroom hunting you need to be extremely careful and be able to recognize it.
   
   

   Dangerous mushroom – causes poisoning and visual hallucination

Conclusion

Cap-shaped mycena is an inedible, but not poisonous representative of the mushroom kingdom. It grows on dead wood, bears fruit all summer until the first frost. Experienced mushroom pickers recommend not to harm themselves and their loved ones, and also to replenish the population, not to pick, but to pass by an unfamiliar specimen.