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Red-lamellar white champignon (Leucoagaricus leucothites) has a second name – Blushing Umbrella. They call it that because when it dries, the hat becomes “ruddy”. Belongs to the Champignon family, the genus White Champignon. In Hebrew, it is called white champignon nut, or Lepiota nut because of its slightly nutty flavor. Outwardly, it is similar to white-colored champignon and other poisonous gifts of the forest, but there are still distinctive signs. You can learn more about where to look, how to distinguish from twins, whether it is worth eating.
What do red-lamellar white mushrooms look like?
In young specimens, the hat is hemispherical in shape, white, with age it becomes more open and acquires a pale pink hue. Its size varies from 4 to 8 cm. Red-lamellar white champignon has a thin and smooth white leg. Its length is from 6 to 10 cm, and its thickness is from 5 to 8 mm. You can distinguish a young specimen from an old one by the presence of a ring on the leg, which disappears when growing up. Spores are ellipsoid, smooth, colorless, 8-10 × 5-6 µm.
Where do red-lamellar lepiotas grow?
The optimal time for the growth of this type of mushroom is the period from July to October. The rosy umbrella is quite common in gardens, parks, fields, lawns and pastures. Thus, the main habitat is grass. They can grow both singly and in groups consisting of 2 – 3 fruiting bodies.
Is it possible to eat browning umbrellas
Although some people question the edibility of red-lamellar white champignon, most sources classify it as edible, and experienced mushroom pickers are happy to collect and use them for food.
Taste qualities of white champignon red-lamellar mushroom
Those who have tried red-lamellar white champignon note a pleasant taste and a light, unusual fruity aroma. Many gourmets claim that it smells like chicken meat and has a pronounced mushroom taste.
Benefits and harm to the body
As you know, any edible mushroom is good for the body, because it contains the necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and trace elements. Due to its low calorie content, red-lamellar white mushroom allows you to reduce weight, and a low glycemic index cleanses the body of toxins and saturates it with useful substances.
False doubles
A blushing umbrella is often mistaken for a white-colored champignon, but there is nothing to worry about, since both options are edible. However, this instance can be confused with false twins, which can cause irreparable harm to health. These include:
- Lead-slag green plate – grows in the same area as the white mushroom. Considered a poisonous mushroom. A distinctive feature is that the white champignon of the red-lamellar plate is pinkish in color, and the double is pale green, and with age they acquire a greenish-olive hue.
- Stinking toadstool (white toadstool) – is considered a deadly poisonous mushroom. When young, it has a hemispherical cap, and with age it becomes more convex. The flesh is white, with an unpleasant smell reminiscent of chlorine. Quite often, membranous flakes form on the cap. It is possible to distinguish the species under consideration from the twin by the absence of a Volvo. In the fly agaric, it is cup-shaped or bag-shaped, often immersed in the soil.
Collection rules
Red-lamellar white mushrooms should not be collected near landfills, enterprises, roads and highways, as they absorb all toxic substances well and thus can harm the body.
Due to its fairly common shape, this instance can be confused with any other. Therefore, in order to avoid poisoning, experts recommend not to collect those gifts of the forest that the mushroom picker doubts.
Use
Many people eat red-lamellar white mushrooms, but it is extremely important not to confuse them with false counterparts. Many reference books indicate that these mushrooms can be eaten raw, fried and pickled. However, there are no generally accepted recipes for cooking.
Conclusion
Red-lamellar white champignon is a useful product that can be found almost anywhere. However, its pale appearance, resembling a toadstool, can alert, and the likelihood of confusing it with a poisonous specimen is quite high. Therefore, if the mushroom picker is not sure that it is the blushing umbrella in his hands, then in this case it is better to throw this specimen away.