Crepidotus mollis

Crepidotus mollis

Crepidotus mollis (Crepidotus mollis (Schaeff.) Staude) is a basidiomycete mushroom from the Cortinariaceae family.

Systematics –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to the Eukaryota Domain, Kingdom Fungi, Basidiomycota Division, Basidiomycetes Class, Order Agaricales, Family Cortinariaceae and then to the Genus Crepidotus and to the C. mollis Species.
The terms are now obsolete: Crepidopus mollis (Schaeff.), Agaricus mollis (Schaeff), Agaricus ralfsii (Berk. & Broome), Crepidotus ralfsii (Berk. & Broome).

Etymology –
The term Crepidotus comes from crépida (Greek κρηπίς, -ῖδος krepís -idos) sandal, footwear and from the Greek οὖς, ωτός oús, otós ear (referring to the hat), ie with the sandal-shaped hat. The specific epithet mollis is due to the consistency of the meat.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Crepidotus mollis is a fungus that grows in isolation or in groups on trunks, branches and sawdust, in the period from spring to early winter.

Recognition –
It is recognized for the hat shaped like a kidney-shaped shelf, almost sessile, of a gray-olive color, with yellowish hues, then whitish with yellowish hues. The lamellae are converging towards the base and often branched, whitish and then pale brown. The stem is small, placed laterally and sometimes covered by a sparse hair. The meat is of a soft consistency (hence the name of the species), with a viscous cuticle, a null smell and a sweet taste. Under the microscope there are elliptic spores of ocher-brown color in mass, of 6-9 x 4.5-6.0 μm.

Cultivation –
Mushroom not cultivated for its mediocre organoleptic qualities.

Uses and Traditions –
Crepidotus mollis is a fungus which is easy to identify due to the presence of a showy gelatinous layer placed on top of the pileus which gives the basidioma a viscous and sticky appearance, to such an extent that the apprehended basidiomes easily attack each other. On microscopic analysis, the absence of buckle joints places C. mollis in the Sottogenere Crepidotus, where, together with C. calolepis and C. calolepis var. squamosus form the Crepidotus Section.
It is a fungus of fair edibility but of not significant value.

Preparation Mode –
Crepidotus mollis, although of fair edibility, is not a fungus that lends itself to a good use in cooking or storage for the soft consistency of its flesh and for the fungal odor.

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.

Attention: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not in any way represent a medical prescription; there is therefore no liability for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.