Giant gymnopile: what kind of mushroom is it, and why is it collected if it is inedible? (5 photos)

A few days ago there was news that in the Kirov district of the Leningrad region, lovers of “silent hunting” had found a huge mushroom (photo attached). The specimen really amazes with its size, especially for residents of latitudes not spoiled by exotic mushrooms. The giant turned out to be the gymnopilus of Juno, he was also a prominent gymnopilus.





"Mushrooms and mushroom pickers of St. Petersburg" Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!

So, the hero of the article comes from the Cobweb family, and this family includes a very small number of edible mushrooms. So it’s definitely not worth dragging a visible gymnopile into your mouth, but we’ll tell you why a little later. Several signs indicate that a truly aged mushroom was found in the Leningrad region. First, pay attention to the hat (hat!). In young mushrooms it is in the form of a hemisphere, and over time it becomes almost flat with a small tubercle in the middle. Secondly, the plates of the mushroom in the photo are already rather rusty-brown, but in their youth they were yellowish. The more often the plates are located, the older the gymnopil. And the leg is just a standard: long, thick, pale, with a leathery ring.



Young specimens

Summer and autumn are the best times to find gymnopile in the forest. And it can be found throughout the European part, except for the northern territories, and the fungus prefers mixed forests. It usually grows in clumps, close to oak trees or on their stumps and dead wood. Some researchers believe that Gymnopil parasitizes trees, but we cannot say for sure.





No, they're really cute

But it is known for sure that you should not use gymnopil. The mushroom is simply tasteless, they say it’s bitter (we haven’t tried it). But most importantly, it contains the hallucinogenic substance psilocycin. This is a natural narcotic substance that begins to act 10-40 minutes after entering the body (depending on the type of mushroom, dose and human metabolism).



Is someone planning to make a profit?

Psilobicin causes hallucinations and an attack of happiness and joy by activating serotonin receptors, but can just as easily lead to an attack of uncontrollable panic. No one can predict how this will all end for a particular person, a simple trip to the world of unicorns or a jump from a window. This is why psilocycin mushrooms are actually banned in most countries.

Drugs in any form are bad! So finding a huge mushroom will not bring any benefit to anyone: you won’t be able to eat it anyway.



Why pick if you won't eat?

But you can photograph the prominent gymnopil as much as you like. Among natural photographers, the mushroom is rightfully considered one of the most photogenic. When going into the forest, look around carefully, and if you notice something interesting, take a photo and send it to us!