Local Name
Khetamkhali (K’almakha, T’q’ubela, Ts’iplis sok’o, Khis sok’o) (1), Ts’iplis-sok’o (gar. kakh.), Khis sok’o (kakh.), Ts’iprash t’q’ubul (svan.) (2), K’almakha zok’o (pshav.) (3), Ch’q’ublasok’o (rach.) (4).
Description
Cap: The cap is 5–18 cm across, convex, becoming flat or somewhat depressed, kidney-shaped to fan-shaped, or nearly circular if growing on the tops of logs, somewhat greasy when young and fresh, smooth, pale brown to dark brown, the margin inrolled when young, later wavy, never lined. Gills are running down the stem, close, whitish or with a gray tinge. Stem: The stem is 1–4 cm long, 0.5–2 cm thick, usually rudimentary and lateral when the mushroom is growing from the side of a log or tree, it may develop a substantial and thick stem that is dry and slightly hairy near the base. Flesh: The flesh is white or whitish, odor pleasant, taste mild. Spores: The spores are 7–11 X 3–4 µm, subcylindric or elliptical, smooth, whitish, pale cream or colourless.
Habitat: On the wood, especially on elm and beech, growing in shelf-like clusters on dead logs and living trees, primarily hardwoods, but sometimes on conifers. Season: Summer, autumn.
Distribution: All regions of Georgia (5).
Uses
Edibility: Edible when young, fresh and marinated (1).
Pshavi — “Often found in rotten beech, sometimes in shelf-like clusters, I think there is no other tasty mushroom like this” (3). Tianeti — “I gather these mushrooms and store them for the winter, usually tinned” (6). Kakheti — “Often found in autumn, in a large amount, then I gather them and freeze them” (7).
Note: Khetamkhali use for food in all regions of Georgia, especially in Eastern Georgia.
References
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G. (2007) Fungi of Georgia. Tbilisi: Buneba Printi.
- Makashvili, A. (1991) Botanical Dictionary. Tbilisi: Metsniereba.
- Shanidze, A. (1984) Georgian mountain dialects. Collected Works in Twelve Volumes. Vol. I. Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. Tbilisi State University. Tbilisi: Metsniereba.
- Kobakhidze, A. (1987) Dictionary of the Rachan Dialect. Tbilisi: Metsniereba.
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G., et al. (1986) Flora of Spore-producing Plants of Georgia (Summary). Tbilisi: Metsniereba (Russian).
- Tushuri, G. (2014) Vlg. Sakdrioni, Tianeti.
- Chaduneli, Z. (2015) Vlg. Gurgeniani, Lagodekhi.