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Project Noah Nature School
Macrolepiota procera
This was quite a big mushroom, if you compare its size with my 36 foot in the second pic. The height and cap diameter of a mature specimen may both reach 40 cm, a size truly impressive for the fruiting body of an agaric. The stipe is relatively thin and reaches full height before the cap has expanded. The stipe is very fibrous in texture which renders it inedible. The surface is characteristically wrapped in a snakeskin-like pattern of scaly growths (therefore, known in some parts of Europe as the "snake's hat" or "snake's sponge"). The immature cap is compact and egg-shaped, with the cap margin around the stipe, sealing a chamber inside the cap. As it matures, the margin breaks off, leaving a fleshy, movable ring around the stipe. At full maturity, the cap is more or less flat, with a chocolate-brown umbo in the centre that is leathery to touch. Dark and cap-coloured flakes remain on the upper surface of the cap and can be removed easily. The gills are crowded, free, and white with a pale pink tinge sometimes present. The spore print is white. It has a pleasant nutty smell. When sliced, the white flesh may turn a pale pink.
Woodland area in Heverlee, Belgium
Yes Ken, these fungus can grow paticularly tll and big. I set my camera on the floor to show the nice gills underneath :-)
Impressive plants, and remarkable photos, especially that first one. You must have had the camera right on the ground.
One of my mentors told me that if you are competent with a bird guide, you can do mushrooms. Once you see one of the edibles in person, pick it, touch it, sniff it, you'll never screw up. If you can't tell a bluebird from a blue jay, however, you're probably not a good candidate to learn. I felt the same way you did once, and wasted all those years of bringing home the goodies! Here in the USA we have several 8-9 infallible species, that once you see them you can't mistake them for anything else. Take the class, if only for the fun!
Thanks for the nice comments!
@Karen: Is because I really do not know about mushrooms and I only find the IDs later on, with the help of guides. I should one day sign up to one of these walks where they show you which ones are edible but still I am not sure that I would be good at differenciating them, it requires expertise. I prefer to later I find them in the market haha :-)
Wonderful photos of a very interesting mushroom! I'm with you Marta, I wouldn't risk tasting it:)
Why not, Marta? I have several I collect and eat, including a relative of the one above. I do recommend you have a mentor: someone who is familiar with the mushroom in question first hand
Spotted on Oct 18, 2014
Submitted on Mar 1, 2015
