Hebeloma crustuliniforme - Гебелома клейкая - Poison Pie

Hebeloma crustuliniforme - Гебелома клейкая - Poison Pie - Gallertfleischiger Helmling 9/6/20—9/24/22

Hebeloma crustuliniforme, also known as Poison Pie or Gallertfleischiger Helmling, is a medium-sized basidiomycete mushroom belonging to the family Hymenogastraceae. The cap is convex to flat, measuring 4-10 cm in diameter, with a smooth, viscid surface and a color that ranges from pale brown to ochre. The cap margin is often wavy and translucently striate. The stem is relatively slender, measuring 5-10 cm long and 0.5-1 cm thick, with a whitish to pale brown color and a smooth texture. The gills are narrowly spaced, adnate to emarginate, and pale brown to dark brown in color. Hebeloma crustuliniforme is primarily distributed across Europe and North America, where it can be found in forests, growing in association with various tree species, particularly deciduous trees. It prefers moist, acidic environments and can be encountered from late summer to late autumn. The spores of Hebeloma crustuliniforme are warty, elliptical, and measure approximately 9-12 x 6-8 µm. The fungus produces a large number of spores, with a single mature fruiting body capable of releasing millions of them. These spores are dispersed by the wind, allowing the fungus to colonize new areas. Hebeloma crustuliniforme is considered inedible and potentially toxic due to the presence of various toxic compounds, such as muscarine. Mushroom foragers should exercise caution when collecting mushrooms to avoid misidentification and accidental consumption of toxic species.