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Mushroom Volvariella mucohead (beautiful, beautiful) is conditionally edible. It is the largest of the Volvariella genus and can be confused with the poisonous fly agaric. Therefore, it is useful for mushroom pickers to know what this representative looks like and where it grows. The official name is Volvariella gloiocephala.
What does mucohead volvarella look like?
Volvariella mucohead at a young age has an ovoid cap enclosed in a volva. As it grows, it takes the form of a bell, and then becomes convex-prostrate with a tubercle in the center. In dry weather, the cap is smooth and silky, it has a diameter of 5 to 15 cm. During rain, the surface becomes sticky and slimy, which is why the fruit got its name. The color of the cap is uneven – in the middle it is darker, and along the edges it has a light grayish tint.
A thin and long stem gives the mushroom an elegant look. Its maximum length can reach 20-22 cm, and the thickness is 2,5 cm. The leg has the shape of a cylinder, slightly thickened at the bottom. Its surface is smooth in adult mushrooms, and slightly felted in young ones, it is colored white or yellowish-gray.
Wide and frequent plates do not grow together with the leg. In young specimens, they are painted white, while in mature specimens they begin to turn pink, and then acquire a brownish-pinkish tint. The spores of Volvariella mucohead are light pink in color. There are no rings on the stem, the flesh at the break is white and loose, not changing color. Taste and smell are weak.
Where does Volvariella mucohead grow?
Grows singly or in small groups on humus-rich soils. It can also be found in gardens, near manure and compost heaps or haystacks. The fruiting season starts in July and ends in September.
These mushrooms are also grown in artificial conditions. Volvariella mucoheads are thermophilic, therefore, in temperate climates, they grow better in greenhouses or heated rooms. Collected compost or fermented straw is used as a nutrient substrate for them. The temperature of the substrate should not be higher than +35 °C, and the air should not be lower than +20 °C, the humidity in the room should not be less than 85%. Under favorable conditions, the mycelium gives the first fruits in two weeks.
Is it possible to eat volvariella mucohead
Volvariella mucohead is considered a conditionally edible mushroom, you can eat it after 15 minutes of boiling. It does not have a rich mushroom aroma, therefore it does not have a high culinary value. However, it has a number of useful qualities and a mild fresh taste, thanks to which it has won the love of many gourmets.
Fresh fruits contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for maintaining health. Their low calorie content makes them a great diet meal for anyone looking to lose weight. Volvariella mucohead is used in alternative medicine for the prevention of cancer and rapid recovery after chemotherapy.
False doubles
A white fly agaric looks like a volvariella mucohead. The first can be distinguished by the absence of a ring on the stem and a pink hymenophore. Fly agaric has a pronounced unpleasant smell of bleach and white plates.
Volvariella mucohead also resembles another conditionally edible mushroom called gray float. Unlike the last volvariella, the mucohead has a smooth leg, a sticky cap surface and pink plates. All floats are edible, but mushroom pickers rarely collect them for fear of confusing them with poisonous fly agaric.
Rules for collection and use
Volvariella mucohead is harvested from July to September in places of growth – on fertile soils, near compost heaps. In order not to disturb the mycelium, the fruits are twisted out of the soil with their hands, and not cut with a knife.
It is not recommended to store Volvariella mucohead after collection, like other agaric mushrooms. It must be washed several times, cleaned of earth and debris, and boiled for 15 minutes. from the moment of boiling. The boiled product can be hot salted, pickled or fried with potatoes, sour cream, chicken, etc.
Conclusion
Volvariella mucohead grows on stubble, under garden fences, near compost heaps. You don’t have to walk through the woods for a long time. The mushroom does not contain toxic substances and is edible after boiling, but it is easy to confuse it with white fly agaric. Therefore, when collecting, you need to be vigilant, and take a good look at the find before putting it in your basket.
