Ryadovka Mayskaya is an edible mushroom that grows in the spring during the season for collecting lines and morels. It chooses a variety of places for growth: illuminated areas of the forest, roadsides of field and forest roads, sparse grass along the edges of fields, meadows and gardens. It can be found even in urban areas, for example, in flower beds or lawns.
How to determine the May row, because this mushroom does not grow along with the usual types of rows in the autumn? It is worth noting that the fruiting body has a rather modest appearance, because its hat, stem and plates are of the same color – whitish or cream. Sometimes novice mushroom pickers confuse the May row with champignons. According to them, the taste of this mushroom is not inferior to even the best autumn species.
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May row mushroom: photo and description
The description of the May row resembles a poisonous white row, which is very toxic. Apparently, this is why the May mushroom is not as popular as the others. And not every fan of “quiet hunting” is ready to wander through the forest in search of this species in the spring. But there are gourmets who are happy to collect this particular row and fill their baskets with it to capacity.
It is known that the poisonous white row has the same color as the May one. However, it begins its fruiting at the end of August and continues until the first frost. The smell of this fungus is very unpleasant and pungent, reminiscent of the smell of mold. Compare a photo showing a May row mushroom and a white row mushroom in natural conditions.
[ »»]Since May mushrooms belong to rows, they also grow in groups, forming “witch rings”. The fruit body smells like fresh flour, although some mushroom pickers claim that its aroma is cucumber or resembles the smell of mowed grass.
The mushroom is considered edible, but due to its specific taste and smell, not everyone prefers it.
Note that May row mushrooms are completely unpretentious in growth. They do not choose any particular forest or soil type. That is why they are found in any forests and forest plantations. However, it is worth remembering that in mid-June these mushrooms completely disappear, giving place to their other brethren.
We invite readers to familiarize themselves with the description and photo of the May row, which will help to correctly identify this edible type of mushroom.
Latin name: Calocybe gambosa.
family: Lyophyllic.
Synonyms: T-shirt, May mushroom, Georgiev mushroom, May calocybe.
Hat: at a young age, it has a flat-convex or hump-shaped shape, the size varies from 3 to 10 cm. Over time, it becomes semi-spread and acquires a flaky-fibrous appearance. The surface is dry to the touch, white or pale cream. Very old specimens of mushrooms acquire an ocher color. Pay attention to the photo of the edible May row mushroom, as well as the shape of the hat at different stages of development.
Leg: cylindrical shape, narrowed or expanded from top to bottom. White or pale cream in color, slightly yellowish when mature. At the base, it usually has a rusty ocher hue. Height from 3 to 9 cm, width from 1,5 to 3,5 cm. The presented photo of the May row in natural conditions will help every novice mushroom picker to distinguish an edible mushroom from a poisonous white row.
Pulp: dense, white, color does not change until old age. It has the taste of fresh flour with a specific smell of cucumber or cut grass.
Records: narrow, thin and frequent, white in color, which become cream in adulthood.
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Application and distribution of the May row
Application: not suitable for consumption raw. Great for preparing for the winter and other culinary treatments.
Edibility: belongs to edible species of category 4, however, in terms of useful qualities, it is not inferior even to beef liver.
Similarities and differences: its fruiting season begins in May and lasts only about a month, so the fungus does not have similar twins. However, it is sometimes confused with the spring poisonous species of entomola, although its coloration is much darker than that of the rowweed, and the leg is much thinner.
Spread: in open areas, in small forests, in thickets of rare shrubs, in meadows, pastures. Very often it can be found where morels or lines used to grow. It grows in large groups or rows, choosing a low grassy litter. The May row mushroom is most of all found on sandy soil in pine or birch-pine forests. It starts fruiting from the beginning or middle of May and continues until the end of June. It is found in the Far East, in Siberia, in the Urals, as well as throughout Europe.
Having a description and photo of the May row mushroom, each mushroom picker will be able to correctly identify this species and collect a large mushroom harvest. The taste and nutritional properties of the first spring mushrooms will delight you and your loved ones, as well as diversify your daily diet.
