| Appearing in April, Calocybe gambosa has the
common name St George's Mushroom. It is a good edible species,
distinguished from other pale species of springtime by its mealy smell.
Fruiting from April to June (the common name derives from St George's
Day, 23rd April, when this mushroom can usually be found), Calocybe
gambosa is usually the first of the large edible fungi to appear.
Cap |
5 to 15 cm diameter; initially almost
spherical, becoming convex and sometimes almost flat; often misshapen but
retaining an incurved margin.
The cap surface is smooth and white with a light brown tinge that
sometimes becomes tan with age.
Firm and white, the cap flesh is prone to maggot infestation as the
fruit body ages, and so only fresh young specimens are worth collecting. |
Gills |
The sinuate gills are white, narrow and very
crowded. |
Stipe |
2 to 4 cm wide and solid, usually curved and slightly thicker at the base,
the stem is 3 to 7 cm tall. There is no stem ring. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Mealy odour and taste. |
Habitat |
In cropped pastures and mown roadside verges;
occasionally in mixed woodland. |
Season |
April to June. |
Occurrence |
Infrequent. |
Similar species |
- Could be confused with the deadly poisonous Inocybe patouillardii,
the Red Staining Inocybe, which can appear at woodland edges towards the
end of spring; its pale pink gills are adnexed and they turn red when
bruised.
- The mealy smell of Calocybe gambosa helps in its
identification, but other white fungi occur later in the year that also
have a mealy odour - for example, Clitopilus prunulus, The
Miller, which has decurrent gills..
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