Shear stitch (Gyromitra fastigiata )
Systematics:
- Department: Ascomycota (Ascomycetes)
- Subdivision: Pezizomycotina (Pesizomycotins)
- Class: Pezizomycetes (Pecicomycetes)
- Subclass: Pezizomycetidae (Pecicomycetes)
- Order: Pezizales
- Family: Discinaceae
- Genus: Gyromitra (line)
- Species: Gyromitra fastigiata (bunch line)
- Other names for the mushroom:
- The line is pointed
- Pointed line
Synonyms:
-
The line is pointed
- Pointed line
- Discina fastigiata
- Peaked discina
- Helvella fastigiata (obsolete)
The pointed line is one of the most noticeable spring mushrooms, and if the question of its edibility remains controversial enough, then no one will argue with the fact that this mushroom is unusually beautiful.
Description:
The bunched cap is quite remarkable. The height of the cap is 4-10 cm, the width is 12-15, according to some sources it can be much larger. The cap itself consists of several upwardly curved plates, which usually form three lobes (maybe two or four). The surface is ribbed, coarsely wavy. If the head of the stitch of a giant in shape resembles the core of a walnut or a brain, then the head of the stitch of a pointed one in general outlines looks more like a surreal sculpture where dimensions are mixed. The blades of the cap are unevenly folded, the upper sharp corners look into the sky, the lower parts of the blades hug the leg.
The cap is hollow inside, the color of the cap on the outside can be either yellow, yellow-brown, or reddish-brown, ocher in young mushrooms. Brownish, dark brown in adults. Inside (inner surface) the cap is white.
The leg is white, snow-white, cylindrical, thickened towards the base, with ribbed longitudinal projections. On the longitudinal section, it is clearly visible that there are remnants of soil in the folds of the leg, this is one of the distinguishing features of the beam line.
Flesh: rather fragile, thin in the cap. In the leg, the line of the giant is more elastic, but significantly inferior in density to the pulp. Watery. The color of the flesh is white, whitish or pinkish.
Taste and smell: mild mushroom, pleasant.
Distribution: in deciduous forests and meadows, April-May, according to some sources – from March. It prefers to grow on calcareous soils and beech forests, it occurs singly or in small groups, especially near rotting stumps. In Europe, the species is found almost everywhere; it does not grow in the taiga zone (no reliable data).
Edible: different sources give diametrically opposite information, from 'toxic' to 'edible', so everyone decides whether to eat this line independently. I consider it necessary to remind you: for such 'dubious' mushrooms, preliminary boiling is highly desirable.
Similar species:
The giant line grows at almost the same time and under the same conditions.
Video about the mushroom
The American Gyromitra brunnea is considered the American variety of Gyromitra fastigiata, although some sources say they are synonymous.
