Description of white rowan mushrooms and what do these mushrooms look like (+18 photos)?

Mushrooms

Tricholoma mushrooms, also known as Tricholoma, are common in the forests of Russia and other countries in the Northern Hemisphere. They get their name from the typical arrangement of their colonies—their clustered rows.

There are many edible species of Tricholomas, but there are also those that are not edible. One such mushroom is the white rowan. The chances of encountering it in the forest are very high, but identifying it is very slim. This can only be done by carefully studying a photo and description of the mushroom.

Characteristic features of the variety

This mushroom is noticeable from a distance due to its distinctive pale color, and an inexperienced mushroom picker might confuse it with a champignon. Upon closer inspection, however, distinctive differences from other species are evident.

Appearance and photo

White rowan is a lamellar mushroom.

Appearance features:

the surface is smooth, the color ranges from pure white to milky;
cap with curved edges, up to 10 cm in diameter;
a cylindrical fibrous stem approximately 10 cm high and up to 2 cm in diameter;
The flesh is dense and turns pink where broken.

It is important to remember this mushroom, as when consumed it immediately causes upset stomach and even poisoning.

Morphology

Belongs to the Tricholomaceae family, or Tricholomaceae, genus: Tricholoma, species: White Tricholoma. Its structure is typical for its genus.

The following can be called species markers:

hat – has a convex shape that straightens out and flattens as they age. The color remains virtually unchanged, but older mushrooms develop a yellowish tint in the center.
Leg – elastic, widened at the top, with a floury coating. It feels quite dense to the touch, without any airiness.
Description of the mushroom
Records – white, frequent and wide, may acquire a yellow color in old mushrooms.
Pulp – dense, white, odorless in young specimens. As the mushroom matures, an unpleasant musty odor develops.

Place of distribution

This species is native to the European continent. It is particularly common in Russian forests in the western part of the country and the Primorsky Krai. The fungus is widespread in deciduous and mixed forests of temperate latitudes. It prefers acidic soils for reproduction.

It prefers open spaces and can be found at forest edges, meadows, and in areas with grass. Like all Tricholoma species, it grows not singly, but in clusters of ten or more.

Mushroom growth area — Habitat of mushrooms

The period of growth and fruiting of the rowan tree covers the period from July to mid-October, but it can be longer, depending on weather conditions.

Consumption

Although many species of Tricholoma are edible and used to prepare delicious dishes, the white Tricholoma is inedible, and some sources even list it as semi-poisonous. The mushroom has an unpleasant, very persistent odor, and its taste can be described as bitter and pungent.

Difference from edible mushrooms

The white rowan mushroom has several similar relatives that are perfectly edible. These are:

Champignon – looks quite similar to the Tricholoma mushroom. You can distinguish Tricholoma by its foul odor, while the Agaricus mushroom will have a pleasant mushroom aroma. Another clue is the dark gills of the Agaricus mushroom and the white gills of the Agaricus mushroom. The final difference is the lack of a ring on the stem of the Tricholoma mushroom.
May tricholoma – very similar in color and shape to its poisonous cousin, but completely harmless to humans and with a pleasant taste and smell, similar to fresh flour. It differs from the white rowan mushroom in its color – milky-white, even creamy – and narrow gills fused to the stem.

It's considered very difficult to spot a May mushroom in the forest at the same time as a poisonous one, as they have different ripening periods. The May mushroom grows from late April to late July, while the white one doesn't begin to bloom until August.

It's important to understand the differences between mushrooms and the specific features that can help you avoid picking poisonous ones. Particular attention should be paid to poisonous mushrooms similar to the white rowan.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to get seriously poisoned by white rowan?

Eating this mushroom in any form can cause digestive upset. Poisoning is also possible, but this depends on the quantity consumed and individual physiology.

Is it possible to get rid of the unpleasant smell of mushrooms by soaking them for a long time?

The pungent musty smell of mushrooms does not disappear either when soaked or during any other culinary processing.

Is it true that white rowan is a hallucinogen?

There is no such information about the white rowan mushroom. However, the stinking rowan mushroom, which resembles the white one in appearance, does affect the human vision and hearing if consumed. The poison contained in the mushroom can also cause irreversible damage to the brain.

The white rowan mushroom is one of the most dangerous mushrooms for human health. It is widespread and often encountered in forests by mushroom pickers. Despite its pleasant appearance, it has a distinctive odor, which makes it easy to distinguish from edible species. Be careful when picking mushrooms and don't risk picking mushrooms you're unsure of.