There are a huge number of mushrooms on Earth. One of these representatives of the forest is the gray row mushroom. Not all mushroom pickers, both professionals and amateurs, know about this mushroom. In this regard, it is especially important to know how it looks and how it differs from poisonous counterparts.
General information about rows
Before we move on to the description and photo of the gray row, we will present general information about all row mushrooms. This name in Russia has several outwardly similar genera of the Ryadovkovye family. But some mushrooms of other genera of the same family can also be called in the same way.
To a greater extent, these are fungi of the genus Tricholoma. For example, purple, lilac-legged and violet belong to the genus Lepista, and the May row - to the genus Calocybe. Moreover, these fungi can be attributed to different genera only according to microbiological signs, and according to external data, they are almost all similar - one form, they grow in rows, the same smell. The mycologists themselves cannot decide in any way, which is why many of the species roam in different genera. Their main main feature is that they grow in heaps (rows).
You can get acquainted with one of the types of mushrooms - gray rowing (photo and description are presented in the article) by reading the material below. It is very important for mushroom pickers to know that among them, unfortunately, there are also poisonous, although not fatal. The worst thing that can happen is an upset bowel for a long time. Unfortunately, although these mushrooms are common, they are poorly identifiable.
This genus got its name for its peculiarity of growth - in groups (in a row or in rings).
Ryadovki is a numerous genus of mushrooms, in which there are more than 2.5 thousand species. For mushroom pickers, only a few species are of particular interest - about 5, of which only 3 species are edible and 2 are conditionally edible.
Separation of rows into edible and poisonous species
Among the edible rows in a row, the following species may be of interest to mushroom pickers:
- gray row (description and photo are presented in the article);
- crowded;
- poplar;
- green (greenfinch);
- May (May mushroom).
Among the conditionally edible can be useful:
- purple;
- yellow-brown;
- yellow-red.
The remaining species of this genus of mushrooms are inedible and even poisonous (especially the tiger row). In this regard, only the most experienced mushroom pickers collect them for eating. The rest is better not to collect them and generally bypass them.
Tricholoma portentosum is a common edible relatively large mushroom. Ryadovka gray got its name, as noted above, for the peculiarity of growing in rows and rings and for the gray color of the hat. Often it is also called a hatched row or mouse because of its resemblance at a young age to a gray little mouse. It belongs to agaric mushrooms.
What does the gray line look like? The spores necessary for the reproduction of this fungus are in the plates. The latter are broad in shape, very sparse, slightly sinuous. In young mushrooms, they are almost white in color, while in more mature ones they are gray, with a yellowish tint. The hat of the gray row is fleshy with wavy edges and slightly noticeable blackish radial fibers. Young mushrooms have rounded conical caps, while mature ones are uneven, often prostrate, with a tubercle flat in the center. And the edges of the caps of young mushrooms are slightly wrapped, while in mature ones they crack over time, bending up.
By the color of the cap, they are mostly pale grayish or dark gray, but are often found with purple, olive and lilac shades. The surface is smooth, slimy and sticky in wet weather, which is why leaves and grass stick to it. The leg of the gray row is slightly thickened, cylindrical, smooth and dense, longitudinally fibrous and deeply planted in foliage or moss. The gray-yellow-white flesh in the cap is dense, but rather brittle, and in the stem it is loose and fibrous.
It is believed that the fungus has a mild persistent mealy smell and taste. However, there is an opinion among mushroom pickers that its smell is more like the smell of stale, damp and musty flour, and it is definitely not spicy.
Autumn row mushroom. The gray hat is clearly visible in the autumn forest. Some specimens can also be found in summer (August), but rowing in autumn (September-October) is especially numerous.
It is believed that this mushroom has the best taste among all edible varieties of rows.
How to distinguish from an inedible mushroom?
There are many similar mushrooms to the gray row. Among several species there are poisonous gray rows, therefore, before collecting them, one should study their similarities and differences well.
Most of all, it looks like a row of gray pointed rows. It is inedible due to its bitter taste. She has exactly the same gray hat, and it is also cracking at the edges. But in this mushroom, the center of the cap is a pointed, strongly protruding tubercle. It can be distinguished both by the pulp and by the plates: in the pointed one they are grayish-white, and in the gray one they are yellowish-white. And in size, the pointed row is thinner and smaller, and it does not grow in large clusters, like gray edible.
Brief description of some similar species
As noted above, inedible, edible and poisonous (weakly poisonous) mushrooms can be found among the rows:
- (semi-edible), characterized by smaller sizes, rare plates and a fibrous scaly surface of the cap;
- rowing is different (semi-edible), having an unpleasant odor and a leg of green, brown or white color;
- (inedible), colored more evenly and having a strong smell of laundry soap;
- the row is pointed (weakly poisonous), characterized by a thin ash hat, with a noticeable conical tubercle in the middle, as well as a burning pulp in taste;
- tiger rowing (large and very poisonous), characterized by a gray hat covered with black spotted small scales and flesh, which turns pink when touched and cut, especially at the stem.
The mushroom usually grows in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere: in Canada, in North America, Western, Northern and Eastern Europe, in the Far East. The main Russian regions of growth: the Urals, Siberia (Novorossiysk), Crimea.
The fruiting period, as a rule, begins from the beginning of September and ends during frosts (end of November). The most massive fruiting is from the end of September to the first half of October.
Most of all, the gray edible row is common in coniferous (especially in pine) and mixed forests and, as a rule, on sandy soil, in mosses and under deciduous-coniferous litter. It grows not only in groups. It is often found in the same places where there is greenfinch, and their growth period is simultaneous. It is believed among the people that the described rowing is almost a sister of greenery, which is why they sometimes call it greenery.
Application
Despite its inconspicuous appearance, gray rowing has a fairly high taste. The described mushroom is suitable for a variety of types of processing. It can be frozen, pickled, pickled, boiled, fried and dried. When cooking, you can use both young mushrooms and very mature ones.
Benefits and contraindications
Like all other mushrooms, gray rowing contains trace elements that are important for the human body. They contain vitamins of groups A, B, PP, copper, zinc and manganese. A fairly high protein content in them is perfectly combined with a low calorie content, so they are perfect for dietary nutrition. It is important to note that an antibiotic was also found in the pulp of the rowweed, however, in a small amount.
Row is used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Antibiotic properties are suitable for combating colds. It should be remembered that people suffering from diseases of the stomach, gallbladder and other similar diseases should not abuse rows too much in order to prevent possible exacerbations.
The mushroom described above is quite often eaten. In terms of its taste, it is well characterized by professional mushroom pickers and just lovers of mushroom hunting. But with all the useful properties, it should be eaten with caution, especially when raw. Mushrooms cause indigestion in this form.
Conclusion
It is desirable to collect gray rows in ecologically clean forests, as they quite actively absorb harmful substances from the air. You should also take the harvesting process seriously and carefully so as not to mistakenly pick up poisonous relatives - gray false rows.
Going into the forest, you need to have complete confidence in your knowledge of mushrooms. Jokes with them are undesirable, because a mistake in the collection can lead to serious and deplorable consequences.
So, with the right, careful and serious approach, you can be sure that the discovery of this type of fungus will bring only benefit and pleasure.
