Parasol mushroom is an edible and very tasty mushroom that grows in summer and autumn, most often in meadows, at forest edges, in clearings, and even in gardens.
It is eagerly picked and most often prepared like a breaded cutlet, known as a forest cutlet or forest schnitzel.
Parasol mushroom:
But that is not the mushroom we would like to focus on in today’s article. We would like to show you a mushroom similar to the popular parasol mushroom. The mushroom is called shaggy parasol (red-ledening parasol mushroom). In appearance, it resembles the parasol mushroom, but it also has several features that clearly distinguish it from it.
How can you distinguish a parasol mushroom from a shaggy parasol?
Above all, the shaggy parasol releases reddish juice when damaged. Simply press the gills under the cap and wait a moment. When the white gills turn reddish, it means that we are dealing with a shaggy parasol, not a parasol mushroom (see the photo below).
Shaggy parasol (red-ledening parasol mushroom):
The parasol mushroom does not change colour when damaged. Another distinguishing feature of the two species is their smell. The parasol mushroom has an intense and pleasant scent. The shaggy parasol has a barely perceptible smell, and it is not pleasant. Another difference is the stem. The stem of the parasol mushroom has a noticeable pattern (zigzag). The shaggy parasol has a more robust stem without a pattern (smooth), and it is usually lighter. A feature shared by both species is the similar appearance of the cap and the movable rings on the stem. In both species, the stem breaks easily and is fibrous.
The shaggy parasol is described as an edible mushroom by some sources. Others state that it is inedible or even mildly poisonous. Some people may experience temporary gastrointestinal problems after eating a shaggy parasol. Therefore, we advise against picking or eating it.