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Golovach oblong is a representative of the genus of the same name, the Champignon family. The Latin name is Calvatia excipuliformis. Other names – elongated raincoat, or marsupial.
What does the golovach oblong look like
In the photo of the golovach oblong, you can see a large mushroom that looks like a large mace or a white skittle. Fruit bodies are easy to spot on the forest floor due to their unusual shape. They often reach from 7 to 15 cm in height, under favorable conditions – up to 17-20 cm.
On the long stalk of the golovach oblong is a hemispherical apex
The fruit body has thickenings (up to 7 cm) and narrower sections (2-4 cm). Young specimens are tobacco brown. With age, the surface brightens and becomes covered with spikes of various sizes.
In the early stages of growth, the flesh of the goblin oblong is elastic in structure, but over time becomes flabby and yellowish, and then turns into a brown powder.
The top of mature specimens completely crumbles, spores begin to be released, and the stalk itself remains intact for a long time.
You can find detailed information about the mushroom in the video:
Where and how to grow
Puffball oblong grows both single specimens and small groups in the European part of Our Country, the Far East and Siberia. The species is found in forests of various types in clearings and edges. The beginning of the fruiting period falls on the middle of summer. Mushrooms can be collected until the second half of autumn.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Golovach oblong belongs to the edible category. For culinary purposes, it is best to use young specimens, with light and elastic flesh. As with all edible puffball species, the fibrous stalk and tough exoperidium must be removed before use.
Twins and their differences
Due to its large size and specific shape, it is quite difficult to confuse the mushroom with other species. However, unformed specimens may be similar in appearance to other varieties of raincoats:
- Pear-shaped raincoat – the main double, a representative of the conditionally edible category. The fruiting body is pear-shaped and has a pronounced “pseudo-leg”, which hides in the substrate and makes the fruiting body visually rounder. Reaches 3 to 7 cm in diameter and 2 to 4 cm in height. With age, the color becomes dirty brown, and the surface becomes smoother. The pear-shaped raincoat is covered with a thick skin that can be easily removed. The pulp is characterized by a pleasant mushroom flavor and aroma. The species is distributed on the territory of deciduous and coniferous forests, the fruiting period begins in mid-July and lasts until the end of September. Only mushrooms with light elastic pulp are suitable for consumption.
Young specimens are light in color and have a spiny surface.
- Sack-shaped golovach (bubble-shaped, round) – a representative of the edible group. The fruit body is round in shape and reaches 10 to 20 cm in diameter. Young specimens are white in color, which gradually turns into gray-brown, tubercles and cracks appear on the surface. The top of mature mushrooms is destroyed with the release of spores. The sac-shaped golovach can be found in clearings, edges and meadows. Distributed singly, fruiting time begins in May and lasts until September.
Mushroom flattened at the top and narrowed at the bottom
- Raincoat prickly – Mushroom of the edible group. Differs in life expectancy and some features of the structure.
The spores of the spiny puffball are located in the hole at the top, which almost completely disappears in the goby oblong
Conclusion
Golovach oblong is an edible mushroom that can be found both in the forest and in a clearing or edge. It has an unusual shape, the top of the fruiting body collapses with age, leaving only brown spore powder. It is best to use for cooking young specimens with white elastic pulp.