It’s Fungi Friday again do it is the time for another mushroom feature! 🍄 Today’s guest of honor is one of my absolute favorites: the PARASOL MUSHROOM also known as MACROLEPIOTA PROCERA.
Many people say it’s the most delicious mushroom in the world. And I fully agree! 😋 It’s tasty, versatile and has this lovely nutty flavor when cooked right. The only issue? It’s not that easy to find, at least not deep in the forest. It prefers open spaces: forest edges, meadows, clearings. For years I didn’t come across it at all… until I finally found the spot. 😎
Now, during the season, I can sometimes stumble upon dozens, even hundreds of them growing in one place. It’s like a mushroom jackpot! 🧺 I often pick more than I can carry and then happily share the harvest with my family, neighbors and fellow mushroom lovers.
This species is often confused with other similar-looking mushrooms from the Chlorophyllum and Lepiota family like the SHAGGY PARASOL, the GREEN-SPORED PARASOL or the SLENDER PARASOL. Most are edible too, though the GREEN-SPORED PARASOL can cause mild stomach upset. It’s not considered deadly, just… unpleasant. 😅
But when it comes to taste? The PARASOL MUSHROOM wins every time. There’s a reason people call it the queen of the forest floor. 👑
Its cap can grow impressively large — up to several dozen centimeters wide. If I have too much of it, I dry the caps (and also the stem!) and grind them into powder to use as a flavorful seasoning.
Young unopened mushrooms can be stuffed with minced meat or cheese or even placed in water so the cap opens the next day. Kind of like forest magic.
One last tip: if you ever wonder whether it’s the true parasol or not, check the stem. The real MACROLEPIOTA PROCERA has a characteristic snakeskin-like zigzag pattern. That’s the easiest way to tell it apart from lookalikes.
👉 Good to know: Some parasol mushrooms (especially young ones) can be confused with a toxic species called CHLOROPHYLLUM MOLYBDITES also known as the false parasol or green-spored parasol.
Although it does not naturally occur in Europe, it grows widely in North and South America, parts of Asia and other warm regions.
☠️ Its gills turn green as it matures. This is a crucial difference from the edible parasol mushrooms we know.
Unfortunately it looks quite similar and it’s highly poisonous, often causing severe gastrointestinal distress.
Even though it’s not found in Europe yet, it’s good to stay alert. With climate change and global plant migrations, nature doesn't care about borders and this species could one day appear in places where it wasn’t seen before.
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This post is based on my own experience and original photography. AI was used for grammar correction and for supporting the translation process.
