Row earthy-gray (earthy): photo and description of the mushroom, how to cook

Row earthy (earthy-gray) or ground – mushroom of the Tricholomov family. In biological reference books it is designated as Tricholoma bisporigerum, Agaricus terreus, Agaricus pullus, in the people these specimens are called mice. The species is classified as conditionally edible.

Where does the earthy row grow?

A common mushroom with a wide distribution area. In Our Country, earthy rowing grows in the subtropical zone and temperate climate. Forms numerous colonies, the main accumulation of which is in Siberia, the Urals, in the Central regions. In the South, it is not so widespread. This is due to the way of development: earthy rowing creates mycorrhiza only with conifers.

For abundant fruiting, calcareous, sandy or loamy soil is required. The mushroom picker is located on coniferous, less often moss litter. Mushrooms grow in long rows or in a dense semicircle. Row earthy forms families in pine forests, coniferous and mixed massifs with a predominance of pine, in urban park areas.

Fruiting in autumn and quite long. In a temperate climate, the crop is harvested from the end of August until the onset of frost (until October). On the Crimean peninsula, where the main accumulation of earthy rows is observed, the last fruiting bodies are found in December. In the Caucasus, fruiting lasts until the end of November.

What does an earthy row mushroom look like

The earthy row is small in size. The fruit body has a light or dark gray color, occasionally there are specimens with a brown or reddish tint. The spathe is present at the beginning of the growing season, then completely disappears or remains in the form of light openwork fragments along the edge of the cap.

The external description of the earthy row (pictured) is as follows:

1. At the initial stage of development, the upper part of the fruiting body has the shape of a wide cone, as it grows older it becomes prostrate, flat, a conical tubercle forms in the center of the cap, in rare cases it is absent.
2. The surface is silky, with small flakes. The plaque is weakly fixed; at the middle stage of maturation, the scales crumble or are washed off by precipitation.
3. The protective film cracks in dry weather, white flesh is clearly visible in places of rupture.
4. The diameter is about 8 cm, the edges of the cap can be straight or slightly wavy. At low humidity, rare longitudinal cracks of various sizes form along the edge.
5. The color is not uniform: in the central part it is darker, the edges are light. On the surface, radial stripes are visible at the place of attachment of the plates.
6. The spore-bearing layer is formed by sparsely located short and long plates with uneven edges. The color is white with a slight gray tint. Spores are white, cone-shaped. Long plates reach the base of the cap, do not cover the stem.
7. The leg is long, cylindrical in shape, grows up to 10 cm. The surface has longitudinal stripes of fibers. The structure is hard, dry, brittle, exfoliating on the cut, the inner part is hollow. Young mushrooms are white in color, while mature ones have a grayish tint, the same as the lamellar layer. Expanded near the soil, narrowing at the top. Near the cap, the surface is covered with a light felt coating. The remains of the bedspread are determined only in young rows in the form of a weakly expressed ring.
8. At the beginning of the development of the fruiting body, the flesh is white, then light gray, thin.

Is it possible to eat a row of earthy gray

The species is classified as conditionally edible; it occupies the fourth category in terms of nutritional value. Fruiting bodies do not contain toxic compounds. The last classification niche for rowing was assigned for its small size and thin flesh. Mushrooms are universal in processing. You can get a good harvest in a relatively small area.

The main popularity of the species is in the Crimea, it is massively harvested for all types of processing. The use of earthy rows in large quantities is not recommended. A high concentration of substances causes the destruction of skeletal muscle cells. Experimental studies have shown that consuming more than 40 kg in a short period can provoke kidney failure.

The taste of the mushroom

Among the Tricholomov family, this species is the best in nutritional value. The fruit bodies of the earthy row are distinguished by a pleasant, weak, sweetish taste. The smell is not repulsive, floury. Mushrooms are processed without preliminary boiling or soaking.

Benefits and harm to the body

The composition of the earth row includes:

• a number of minerals that are especially useful for the body: sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and calcium;
• betaine, vitamin complex;
• stearic, aspartic, glutamic acid, lysine, threonine, alanine;
• a number of phenols;
• ergosterine;
• the substances cletocin and femecin have the quality of natural antibiotics;
• polysaccharides.

Useful properties of earthy rowing are used for treatment:

• pathologies of the genitourinary system;
• normalization of the pulse rate during arrhythmia;
• arterial hypertension;
• diseases of bone tissue (osteoporosis, rheumatism);
• dysfunction of the endocrine system. Useful mushrooms for diabetes;
• causes of hormonal imbalance in women;
• obesity. Rows contain protein, so they are included in the diet, they completely replace meat dishes, but less high-calorie.

Earthy rowing is contraindicated:

• with chronic diseases of the stomach, causing low acidity;
• during exacerbations of pathologies of the gallbladder and gastrointestinal tract;
• with pancreatitis, cholecystitis.

A large number of mushrooms can cause pain and intestinal upset.

How to distinguish a row of earthy gray

The earthy-gray row is similar to several species, the photo and description of which is presented below.

The gray row is outwardly very similar to the earthy one.

An edible mushroom that differs from an earthy row:

• place of growth: found in mixed and deciduous arrays;
• large size of the fruiting body;
• yellow spots are present on the spore-bearing layer in adult specimens;
• the flesh turns yellow when broken.

The fruiting period is late, the taste and smell are mild. The fruiting body is versatile in processing.

Row carved or silvery – conditionally edible.

These mushrooms are lighter, the color is not gray, but light brown, adult specimens can be almost white. The pulp is yellowish, with a pleasant smell and unexpressed taste. After pickling, the fruiting bodies become yellow or light green. Fruiting is early (since the beginning of June), the species grows in mixed forests.

Row is sad belongs to the inedible group of mushrooms.

Grows and bears fruit in coniferous or mixed forests in symbiosis with pine, rarely spruce. The main difference between the inedible species is the color and surface of the cap. The protective film is densely covered with small, tightly fixed scales. The surface is felt-like. The edges are light, lowered, the central part is dark gray, there is no conical formation on the cap. Taste and smell are unexpressed.

Tiger Row – Poisonous.

The cap is thick, fleshy, light gray. A distinctive feature is large flakes on the surface, arranged in stripes. The shape of the cap is rounded, with wavy, concave edges, on which cracks are visible. Grows in late summer in mixed or coniferous forests. May cause severe toxicity. The taste is sweetish, the smell of flour.

Collection rules

The family that includes the species is quite numerous. It consists mainly of mushrooms, which are unsuitable for food, but outwardly similar to edible. Therefore, the main rule when collecting an earthy row is to take only those fruiting bodies that are not in doubt. A few recommendations for mushroom pickers:

1. Only young specimens are harvested; overripe mushrooms release toxins during decomposition.
2. Fruiting bodies are not taken in ecologically unfavorable areas, since they accumulate harmful substances.
3. Cut off or break off the leg without damaging the mycelium.
4. If several earthy rows are found, a colony is sure to be nearby.
5. They search only under pine trees; the species does not grow under other tree species.
6. The harvest is at the end of summer, mushrooms appear after heavy rainfall.

How to cook an earthy row

The species is included in various dishes, which includes mushrooms. Pre-fruiting bodies are treated from debris, soil fragments and mycelium on the leg. If the mushroom is slightly affected by insects, soak in warm salt water for 15-20 minutes.

The following dishes can be prepared from the earthy-gray row mushroom:

• soup;
• vegetable stew;
• casserole with meat, potatoes;
• stuffing for pies or pies.

Mushrooms can be baked in the oven with vegetables or fried.

Earthy rowing is suitable for winter harvesting, after processing it completely retains its chemical composition and is stored for a long time. Fruiting bodies are used for hot and cold salting, they are pickled, dried, boiled and frozen.

Conclusion

Row earthy – late agaric. It is found in the European part, Central and Southern regions. It grows in temperate and subtropical climates under coniferous trees in symbiosis with pine. Fruiting is plentiful and long, the species belongs to the fourth category in terms of nutritional value.