Calocybe gambosa

Taxobox | name = St. George's mushroom

---

regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Tricholomataceae
genus = "Calocybe"
species = "C. gambosa"
binomial = "Calocybe gambosa"
binomial_authority = (Fr.) Donkmycomorphbox
name = Calocybe gambosa
whichGills = free
capShape = convex
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter=bare
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=choice

St. Georges mushroom ("Calocybe gambosa") is an edible mushroom that grows mainly in woodlands. Deriving its common name from when it first appears in the UK, namely on St George's Day. It appears in march in Italy, a warmer country, and is there known as "marzolino", where it is very popular to eat.cite book | author = Carluccio A | year = 2003 | title = The Complete Mushroom Book |pages=p. 75| publisher = Quadrille | id = ISBN 1-84400-040-0]

It is considered a delicacy, especially when fried in butter. It was previously considered a part of the large genus "Tricholoma" and is still seen as "T. gambosum" in older texts.

Taxonomy

Initially described as "Agaricus gambosus" by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, with its specific epithet derived from a Latin term for club footed in relation to its bulky stem. It was later named "Tricholoma gambosum" before being reclassified as "Calocybe gambosa". In Germany it is known as "Maipilz", where it fruits in May. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek terms "kalos" "pretty", and "cubos" "head". [cite book | author = Nilson S & Persson O | year = 1977 | title = Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi | publisher = Penguin|isbn=0-14-063006-6|pages=p. 24]

Description

The cap measures from 5-15 cm in diameter and has a smooth texture and has ridges on it. The cap, stem and flesh can be from white-creamy coloured to bright yellow. The sinuate gills are white and crowded. The flesh is thick and soft and has a mealy or cucumber smell. The spore print is white to pinkish white. The stubby stem is bulky at the base.

Care must be taken not to confuse it with the highly poisonous "Inocybe erubescens", which grows in the same habitats. The latter has a more pungent fruity smell and bruises red. "Entoloma sinuatum", also poisonous, has a rancid smell.cite book|author=Zeitlmayr L|year=1976|title=Wild Mushrooms:An Illustrated Handbook|publisher=Garden City Press, Hertfordshire|isbn= 0-584-10324-7|pagesp. 70]

Distribution and habitat

It is common in grasslands and woodlands in Europe, often in areas rich in limestone. It is common on the Swedish islands Öland and Gotland, both situated in the Baltic sea. On the South Downs in southern England, it has formed huge fairy rings which appear to be several hundred years old.cite book | author = Ramsbottom J | year = 1953 | title = Mushrooms & Toadstools |pages=p. 125 | publisher = Collins | id = ISBN 1870630092] It is found from April in the United Kingdom, and earlier in warmer countries.

Edibility

The mushroom is best picked in dry weather. It can be eaten dry or pickled or even raw. It is imported in commercial quantities into Western Europe from Romania.

References