Cotton psatirella: description and photo, edibility

Cotton psatirella is an inedible forest dweller of the Psatirellaceae family. The agaric mushroom grows in dry spruce and pine forests. It is difficult to find him, despite the fact that he grows up in huge families. It begins fruiting from mid-autumn, which lasts until the first frost. In order not to harm your body, you need to know the external characteristics of the fungus, familiarize yourself with the photo and video.

Where do cottonseed psatirrella grow

Cotton psatirella is a rare species that prefers to grow in small groups in dry coniferous forests. It starts fruiting from August to the end of October.

What do cotton psatirrella look like

Cotton psatirella has a hemispherical cap, which, as it grows, straightens and becomes almost flat. The surface is covered with a thin skin, it cracks in dry weather and gives the mushroom a variegated color. Snow-white pulp peeps out from under the thin peel, due to which the mushroom takes on a “cotton” appearance. The hat is painted in light gray, after the rain it becomes shiny and slimy.

The spore layer is formed by thin whitish plates, which at a young age are covered with a snow-white veil. Gradually they darken, the film breaks through and partially descends onto the leg.

The cylindrical leg can be up to 6 cm long. The upper narrowed part is painted white, closer to the ground – dark gray. The surface is covered with numerous light gray scales. The pulp of the species is dense and snow-white, with mechanical damage it emits a pleasant lime or lilac aroma.

Reproduction occurs by microscopic, ovoid spores, which are located in a dark purple spore powder.

Is it possible to eat cotton psatirella

This representative of the forest kingdom is considered inedible. In order not to confuse it with edible species and not get food poisoning, it is necessary to study the external characteristics of the species. But if the mushroom accidentally hit the table, it is important to notice signs of intoxication in time and provide first aid.

Symptoms of mild poisoning:

• cold, clammy sweat;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pain in epigastrium;
• diarrhea;
• fever;
• rapid pulse.

If signs of intoxication appear, first aid should be provided immediately. For this:

• heat is placed on the legs and on the stomach;
• the victim is released from restrictive clothing;
• give absorbents;
• if there is no diarrhea, a laxative should be given.

How to distinguish cotton psatirella

Psatirella cotton, like any forest dweller, has twins. These include:

1. Velvety – belongs to the 4th group of edibility. You can recognize the species by the bell-shaped hat, which partially straightens as it grows. The surface is up to 8 cm in diameter, covered with velvety skin of lemon-brown or light brown color. Cylindrical, slightly curved leg 8-10 cm long, covered with dirty gray small scales. The pulp is fibrous, without a pronounced mushroom taste and smell. The mushroom grows among deciduous trees, comes into fruiting from July to September. It grows singly and in small families in well-lit glades.

   

   Psatyrella velvety Psathyrella velutina

2. spherical – an inedible specimen that prefers to grow on stumps, damaged hardwood and softwood. You can recognize the mushroom by its convex hat of cream or coffee color. After rain, the hat swells and increases in size. The whitish pulp is dense, fragile, without a pronounced taste and smell. The leg is hollow, slightly curved, reaches a height of up to 8 cm. It is covered with light gray scales, and the upper part is powdery.

   

3. Kandolla – the species belongs to the 4th group of edibility. You can recognize it by a small snow-white or lemon-brown bell-shaped hat and a cylindrical whitish-coffee leg. The lower layer of the cap is formed by gray plates adhering to the stem. The pulp is thin and fragile, has a pleasant mushroom smell and taste. This specimen grows in large families among deciduous trees, in forests, parks and squares. It starts fruiting from May to October.

   

Conclusion

Cotton psatirella is a beautiful, inedible representative of the mushroom kingdom. Prefers dry, coniferous forests, starts fruiting from August to early November. In regions with a warm climate, the species grows from the beginning of summer until the first frost. In order not to get a slight food poisoning, you need to look at the information in the mushroom picker’s atlas, and during the mushroom picking, pass by unknown species.