Contents
The lamellar mushroom psatirella velvety, in addition to the Latin names Lacrymaria velutina, Psathyrella velutina, Lacrymaria lacrimabunda, is known as velvety or felt lacrimaria. A rare species, it belongs to the last group in terms of nutritional value. Suitable for use after boiling.
Where do velvety psatirrella grow?
Psatirella velvety grows singly or forms small groups. On a small area of the mycelium can grow from three to five specimens. In mid-July, after precipitation, the first single mushrooms appear, mass fruiting – in August, lasts until early September. In regions with a warm climate, the last psatirrella are harvested until October.
The species prefers sandy soils, grows in all types of forests, is found in open glades, near paths, on roadsides. It is found in city parks and squares, in gardens among short grass. In forest areas it occurs on the remains of rotting wood, deadwood, stumps and fallen dry branches. The species is distributed from the North Caucasus to the European part, the main accumulation of psatirella is in the mixed forests of Central Our Country.
What do velvety psatirrella look like?
A medium-sized mushroom, the fruiting body consists of a cap and a stem.
The external characteristic of psatirella is as follows:
- The shape of the cap at the beginning of growth is rounded-convex, tightly connected to the stem with a veil. As it matures, the veil breaks, forms a ring on the stem and fragments in the form of a large fringe along the edge of the cap.
- In mature specimens, its shape becomes prostrate, about 8 cm in diameter with a slight bulge in the center.
- The surface is velvety, finely scaly, with radial wrinkles.
- The color is light brown or yellow-ocher with a dark spot in the central part.
- The spore-bearing layer is lamellar, extending onto the stem. The plates are located densely, well fixed to the bottom.
- The hymenophore is velvety, gray in young mushrooms, in adult specimens it is closer to black with light edges.
- The leg is cylindrical, thin, up to 10 cm long, expanded near the mycelium.
- The structure is fibrous, hollow, light gray.
The pulp is watery, thin, brittle and light.
Is it possible to eat psatirrella velvety
In the classification of mushrooms by nutritional value, felted lacrimaria is included in the last fourth category. Refers to conditionally edible species. Processing is possible only after preliminary boiling. The fruit body is watery and very fragile, not suitable for harvesting for the winter.
Taste qualities of the mushroom psatirella velvety
Mushroom with a bitter taste, especially mature. The smell is pleasant mushroom. The pulp is watery, the fungus loses 2/3 of its mass after processing. But completely retains the chemical composition.
Benefits and harm to the body
The fruiting body of the psatirella consists of 80% water, the rest contains proteins, amino acids, a set of vitamins and trace elements. But their number is small. Lacrimarium does not bring much benefit. The mushroom is not in demand among mushroom pickers. The opinion of mycologists about the usefulness of psatirella is also ambiguous. There are no toxic compounds in the composition, but if improperly processed, the forest product can cause an upset of the digestive system.
False doubles
The species is referred to as a false honey agaric, outwardly, cotton psatirella is similar to the velvety psatirella.
The double is distinguished by a whiter color of the fruiting body, it is monophonic both in the upper part and on the stem. They grow in colonies on the remains of rotten wood of various species. The color of the spore-bearing lamellar layer is light brown with a red tint. Refers to inedible species.
Collection rules
They take velvety lacrimaria only in an ecologically clean place, you can not harvest near industrial enterprises, gas stations, highways, within the city. Mushrooms can cause poisoning from substances harmful to the body that have accumulated in the fruiting body. Overripe specimens are not collected, their taste is bitter, it remains after processing.
Use
After harvesting, the felt lacrimaria is cleaned of litter, washed and boiled for 40 minutes. Broth is not used for cooking. The processed product is fried, boiled in soup or stewed with vegetables. Boiled mushrooms are used for salads, but are not suitable for salting. You can pickle in assorted with other types. Massively lacrimaria velvety is not harvested.
Conclusion
The lamellar appearance of velvety psatirella is a mushroom with low gastronomic value. The taste is bitter, it can be used for cooking only after a long boil. The species grows in mixed forests, in glades, in city parks. It occurs infrequently, harvested from mid-summer to autumn.
