”St. George's Mushroom aka Maipilz (Calocybe gambosa) is another funghi we are loving right now. so much so Susy stole my find... thief!
GeorgeFlavour Fred
A discussion with a thief in this video and I have provided ID in the notes below
Firstly this video is more about the thieving of a Maipilz mushroom (aka St. George’s Mushroom) by Susy (@queer.as.funghi) who literally snatched it out of my hand. But also the decision to stuff it in the Black Morel with cream cheese and fry it. Video for that is tomorrow I think. Back to the shroom…
I will call it Maipilz from here on in which is the German name given its arrival predominantly in May time. Obviously loads of names for different regions such as “Vårmousseron” in Denmark. The scientific name is Calocybe gambosa. Calocybe is derived from Ancient Greek: kalos “pretty”, and cubos “head”. Gambosa refers to the stipe being “club-footed” as the large stem often has a bulbous base.
The shape of the cap starts round becoming convex when young the growing flatter and misshapen with incurved margin. The cap is smooth and white/cream that has a brown tinge especially around the centre that develops with age. The gills are very crowded and sinuate which means “curving in or curving out” here for the gills it means they meet the stipe and curve in a little before meeting the stipe. Spores are WHITE. The aroma is the main proof I need a strong “mealy” aroma is used (I’ve heard worse) but I think cucumber is there but please excuse the mention of a sweaty jock-strap. Mainly found in grasslands but they do appear all over often in fairy rings.
Inocybe erubescens aka deadly fibrecap generally found around beech grouping in leaf litter. A pale pink bell shaped cap, reddish-pink stipe with pink gills stain when bruised whereas Mailpilz are white. I’ll keep my focus on greener spaces away from the edge of woodlands rather than around beech leaf litter as a starting point and the after the visual checks the smell of Maipilz is undeniable.
Entoloma sinuatum aka the Livid entoloma but this is mainly confused when they are very young as they grow quite large. Found in deciduous woodlands summer into autumn and more common in Central Europe. It is not deadly but has caused much gastric upset although the intake quantity might decide that for you. This pink spored Funghi should be checked but in my opinion unlikely and again the smell is the giveaway.
Susy is a thief though. Snatched out of my hand.
