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Macrolepiota procera
Immature fungus. The height and cap diameter of a mature specimen may both reach 40 cm. 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. 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.
Mediterranean forest, Holm oaks, cork oaks, wild olive trees, stroberry trees, etc. Parque Nacional de Monfragüe
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.; f/32; ISO Speed Rating: 200. Focal Length: 90.0 mm.
Spotted on Nov 2, 2012
Submitted on Nov 28, 2012
6 Comments
Done!
If you ever come to the UK in October Argy (and Arlanda) I'll happily at least tell you of a couple of good M. procera (or C. rhacodes) spots in Derbyshire if you'd like!
It is one of the more appreciated mushrooms here and very common, but I did not know it was rare down under
Common for some maybe... we only hear about them in foreign cooking shows :-)
Thanks Argy, I know it is a common one but it is so nice and taste so good that I could not resist it
A textbook classic Arlanda - good find.