Tricholoma terreum
Tricholoma terreum
Moretta (Tricholoma terreum (Schaeff .: Fr.) Kummer) is a small fungus of the Tricholomataceae family, of good edibility.
Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to the Domain Eukaryota, Kingdom Fungi, Basidiomycota Division, Class Basidiomycetes, Order Agaricales, Family Tricholomataceae and then to the Genus Tricholoma and to the Specie T. terreum.
Etymology –
The term Tricholoma derives from the Greek θρίξ, τριχóς thríx, trichόs hair, hair, braid and from λῶμα loma hem: that is, with hair along the hem. The specific epithet terreum comes from the earth: earthy, earthy, gray.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Tricholoma terreum is a small fungus that can be found in deciduous or mixed forests, even if its ideal habitat is pine woods; you can find it from late autumn to winter or, in certain areas with rainy and cold springs, even between May and June. It is particularly invasive in reforestation pines.
Description –
The Tricholoma terreum is characterized by having a hat that as a young man takes the form of a pinhead, then globose, campanulate, convex and finally flat and slightly humbified; the color is gray mouse, covered with numerous scales, silky gray-blackish. The lamellae are smeared to the stem, not very dense, fragile, with a denticulate margin, of a variable color from white to gray-ash. The stem is full, fistulous, finally hollow, cylindrical of 4-8 cm in height, with a diameter that can vary from 1 to 2.5 cm; It has a white color, stuffed with perforations that are perforated towards the apex and with an almost persistent grayish color. The flesh of this mushroom is fragile, tender, white or ash-white with a delicate and delicate odor and taste. The spores are elliptic, not amyloid, smooth, 5-8 x 4-5 μm and white in bulk.
Cultivation –
Fingo symbiote very common in some habitats and not cultivated.
Uses and Traditions –
The brunette is a fungus that is not always easy to recognize; in fact, it can be confused with the following fungi: Tricholoma pardinum (very poisonous), also known as “T. tigrinum “; Tricholoma scalpturatum (good edible); Tricholoma virgatum (poisonous), mushroom with very bitter flesh that stands out for its campanulate hat, with an acute umbo. It can also be confused with T. pardinum, which is a very dangerous species, which has caused, among other things, even some decessoche but it is of a larger size and with a stem that is always full and thickened at the base.
Preparation Mode –
The Tricholoma terreum, freshly harvested, does not give off a particular aroma, except for a slight hint of flour. It becomes very tasty only after cooked, even if its taste is still rather delicate; for this reason it is advisable not to mix it with other mushrooms, but it is preferable to consume it alone, to fully appreciate its taste. For the fragility of its meat is more suitable to make sauces and gravies with which you can then season polenta or pasta. In purity, it can be quickly sautéed in a pan with a little butter and parsley. La Moretta, is conserved in oil, where it becomes one of the best mushrooms ever.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Cetto B., 2008. Real mushrooms, Saturnia, Trento.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (edited by), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only and do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.