Snow Collybia (Gymnopus vernus)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Omphalotaceae (Omphalotaceae)
- Genus: Gymnopus (Gimnopus)
- Type: Gymnopus vernus (Snow Collybia)
- Collibia snow
- Gymnopus spring
- Snow honey agaric
Snow Collybia (Collybia vernus) is a species of mushroom belonging to the Negniuchnikov family, the Gymnopus genus.
The fruit body of spring hymnopus has a dark brown color, but on the cap of some mushrooms there are sometimes light marks. After drying, the pulp of the fungus acquires a light brown hue. The cap can be up to 4 cm in diameter.
The spring hymnopus grows during periods of snowmelt in the forest (most often it can be seen in April and May). It occurs in snow thawed areas and in areas where the thickness of the snow cover is minimal. It got its name because it appears from under the snow in early spring, like the first flowers, blueberries and snowdrops.
Collibia snow prefers to grow in alder forests, near living trees, in clearings well-lit by the sun. This mushroom feels good on marshy, damp, peaty soils. Snow collibia grow well on fallen leaves and branches rotting on the ground.
Snow Collibia is a conditionally edible mushroom. This species has been little studied by scientists, so there are conflicting opinions about the edibility of the species. It is impossible to get poisoned by snow collibia, but because of the thin stem and small size, mushroom pickers do not like it.
The taste is similar to mushrooms. The aroma is earthy, similar to autumn mushrooms.
Hymnopus spring is not afraid of frost. After them, these mushrooms thaw and continue to grow.