Local Name
Mindvris kama (1), Nekhvis sok’o (2), Kamara sok’o (javakh.) (3).
Description
Cap: The cap is 8–20 cm across; ovate at first expanding convex, creamy white yellowing slightly with age or on bruising. Gills are free, white at first then flesh-pink, finally chocolate brown with age. Stem: The stem is 5–10 cm tall, 1.5–3 cm thick, cylindric, often slightly clavate at the base, concolorous with the cap, the ring is formed of a double membrane, the lower splitting into a star-shape around the stem. Flesh: The flesh is whitish-yellowish, taste pleasant, mushroomy. Spores: The spores are 7–9 X 4–6 µm, elliptic, smooth, brownish.
Habitat: On soils, amongst grass and in grassy places (lawns, fields), as well as in pasture or thickets. Season: Spring, autumn.
Distribution: All regions of Georgia (3).
Uses
Edibility: Edible when fresh and marinated (1).
Tianeti — “We rarely gather Kama on meadows, because of its quite small amount” (5). Kakheti — “We gather Kama on meadows in autumn, because of its quite large amount; in our region it’s an exact period to gather them” (6). Tetritskaro — “We gather Kama only on meadows, not in the forest, it’s very tasty mushroom” (7). Manglisi — “If we gather Kama in a large amount, then we dry them for the winter” (8). Mtskheta — “Kama can be found in a large amount especially on a manure places, usually on meadows and pastures” (9).
Note: Kama is well known and probably most popular and recognisable mushroom in all regions of Georgia.
References
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G. (2007) Fungi of Georgia. Tbilisi: Buneba Printi.
- Orbeliani, Sulkhan-Saba (1991) Georgian Dictionary. Tbilisi: Merani.
- Zedginidze, G. (2014) Javakhian Dictionary. Tbilisi: Saunje.
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G., et al. (1986) Flora of Spore-producing Plants of Georgia (Summary). Tbilisi: Metsniereba (Russian).
- Khosiauri, V. (2014) Vlg. Chekuraantgori, Tianeti.
- Tsignadze-Brekashvili, L. (2015) Zemo Bodbe, Sighnaghi.
- Janiashvili, L. (2014) Vlg. Pantiani, Tetritskaro.
- Aptsiauri, E. (2014) Vlg. Shekhvetila, Tetritskaro.
- Kvelashvili, G. (2014) Vlg. Galavani, Mtskheta.