Agrocybe praecox
Agrocybe praecox
Agrocybe praecox (Agrocybe praecox (Pers.) Fayod, 1889) is a fungus belonging to the Bolbitiaceae family.
Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to the Eukaryota Domain, Kingdom Fungi, Basidiomycota Division, Basidiomycetes Class, Order Agaricales, Family Bolbitiaceae and then to the Genus Agrocybe and to the A. praecox Species.
The terms are synonymous: Agaricus togularis Bull. : Fr. 1793, Agaricus praecox Pers .: Fr. 1800, Agaricus gibberosus Fr. 1838, Pholiota praecox (Pers .: Fr.) P. Kumm. 1871, Agrocybe gibberosa (Fr.) Fayod 1889 and Hylophila togularis (Bull .: Fr.) Quél. 1894.
Etymology –
The term Agrocybe comes from the Greek ἀγρός agrós, field and κύβη cýbe, head (hat): ie head of the fields, hat of the fields. The specific epithet praecox derives from early, early, premature: that develops, flourishes or matures in advance of similar species.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Agrocybe praecox grows gregarious in groups composed of numerous subjects, rarely isolated and bushy on stumps; it is found in the spring period from April to May, in the plains and up to the middle mountain. This mushroom prefers the wooded environment, but can also be found in the grass of parks and gardens.
Recognition –
Agrocybe praecox is recognized for having a 3-8 cm diameter hat, from convex to flat, with opaque cuticle, slimy and dark yellow, both when closed and open. The lamellae are almost spaced, thin, whitish in color and tend to turn yellow. The stem has a height of 3-8 cm, with a thickness of 0.3-0.5 cm, cylindrical, often thickened and with rhizoids at the base, very similar to the hat, sometimes darker towards the base; it is longitudinally fibrillose, has a strong and fibrous consistency. The ring is white, membranous and facing up, it is located in the upper part of the stem but soon I fall. The meat is white-ice, immutable, with a pleasant smell and pleasant taste but not appreciated by everyone.
In the microscopic analysis, brown spores are noticed in mass.
Cultivation –
It is not among the cultivated mushrooms also for its flavor not appreciated by all.
Uses and Traditions –
Agrocybe praecox is a nice little-known mush and not much appreciated because of its not very good taste; its edibility is among other things discussed: not edible for some and edible for others; among other things it has a bitterish taste and rather poor yield. For this reason and for the possibility of exchanging it with poisonous species, sometimes even with some dangerous Inocybe, consumption is not recommended.
Still in the field of possibility of exchange this fungus can be confused with: Hypholoma fasciculare (poisonous), Hypholoma sublateritium (poisonous) and Kuehneromyces mutabilis (good edible). There are no vulgar names for this species.
Preparation Mode –
The use of this mushroom in the kitchen is much discussed and therefore its use is not recommended.
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.