St George's Mushroom

Calocybe gambosa

Forest edges, parks, lake shores, riverbanks, scrubby pastures, among grasses. Spring, rarely in June.

Fruiting bodies medium-sized. Cap 5-8 cm, rarely 10-12 cm across, white or softly yellowish, greyish-yellowish, convex, matt, fleshy. Gills whitish, cream. Stem 3-7 (10)x1-2 (3.5) cm in size, white. Flesh white, with a strong mealy smell. Characteristic features: grows in spring, singly or in small groups. Edible fresh, salted, dried. Common. Medical scientists are interested in its properties. One of the most valuable spring edible mushrooms. People in the Biržai, Pakruojis and Pasvalys areas call it greitgrybis ("quick mushroom"); it is quite popular.