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The sharp-scaled lepiota (Lepiota acutesquamosa or Lepiota aspera), despite its outward resemblance to edible umbrellas, repels mushroom pickers with its unpleasant aroma.
The sharp-scaly lepiot is also called the sharp-scaly or rough umbrella.
The first mentions date back to 1793. The species was described by the microbiologist H. G. Person. And the mushroom got its modern name thanks to another scientist – the Frenchman Lucien in 1886.
What do scaly lepiotas look like
The description of the rough lepiota will help to distinguish it from the edible umbrella and champignons. They are from the same family.
head
First of all, this concerns the size and shape of the hat. Even in an adult scaly lepiota, it is small, no more than 4-5 cm in diameter.
Young fruiting bodies are distinguished by a bell-shaped cap, similar to an umbrella. At the top there is a brown-brown tubercle characteristic of the species. The surface is somewhat lighter, scales resembling pyramids are scattered on it. But they do not adhere to the hat, but bristle, the edges are sharp. This part of the fruiting body is dense in consistency, but breaks easily.
spore layer
Spore-bearing layer in the form of plates. In young lepiots, it is not visible due to the frequent white veil. As it grows, the leathery film breaks, part of it remains on the cap. A ring forms on the leg.
Frequent plates are thin, unevenly located. The color palette ranges from white to dark yellow, depending on the age of the rough umbrella.
Leg
The leg of the rough lepiota has a regular cylindrical shape with a thickening near the ground in the form of a tuber. The height of this part is 8-12 cm, the thickness is 7-15 mm. Differs in dense fibrous structure, inside with emptiness.
There are stripes above the ring on a white background. In the lower part of the leg is rough, yellow or brown with scales. Closer to the base, they become brown.
Pulp
The flesh is white or grayish. This remains even on the fault. There is no milky juice in the composition of the fruiting body. It is dense fibrous, with an unpleasant odor and a sharp pungent taste.
Where do scaly lepiotas grow
Rough umbrellas – autumn mushrooms. Fruiting begins in August and lasts until frost. They grow on fertile soils and rotting garbage. You can meet:
- in mixed forests;
- next to roads;
- in park areas;
- on the lawns.
The mushroom is rare, growing singly or in small groups.
Is it possible to eat sharp-scaled lepiotas
Lepiota sharp-scaled refers to poisonous mushrooms, so it is not eaten. But the composition includes antibacterial substances. An extract is prepared from the fruiting bodies that can destroy Escherichia and hay coli.
Symptoms of poisoning
In case of poisoning with a scaly umbrella, especially when drinking alcohol, a throbbing headache begins, redness appears on the face, and tachycardia is felt. After a few hours, the symptoms disappear. But if you re-drink an alcoholic drink, everything starts anew. Such a connection between lepiota and alcohol-containing substances was revealed by doctors from Germany in 2011.
They studied several patients who came after mushroom poisoning. In three out of five cases, the cause of the malaise was precisely the sharp-scaled lepiotes, which were eaten along with edible mushrooms and even under alcohol.
First aid for poisoning
At the first symptoms of poisoning, you should call an ambulance, fix the time of onset of malaise. Wash the patient’s stomach with plenty of water, induce vomiting and give sorbents. Most often, activated charcoal is at hand.
In severe cases, an enema may be given. After providing first aid, you need to put the patient to bed until the doctors arrive. Self-medication is strictly prohibited, as this can aggravate the situation.
Conclusion
Lepiota sharp-scaled belongs to the category of fruiting bodies hazardous to health. Only beginners can take a mushroom with an unpleasant odor into the basket. That is why you need to be careful in the forest. If you come across an unfamiliar mushroom, it is better to walk past it so as not to harm your health.
