Local Name
Irema-sok’o, Zgharba-sok’o (1).
Description
Cap: The cap is 4–20 cm across, flattened convex at first later depressed, velvety then felty soon cracking deeply into coarse overlapping upturned scales of a dark reddish or purplish-brown contrasting with the pale pink or flesh-coloured background. Stem: The stem is 2–8 X 1–2 cm, tapering or swollen at the base, whitish at first becoming brownish from the base upwards. Taste slight but bitter after a few minutes, smell slight, not distinctive. Flesh: The flesh is whitish to pale brownish, soft, pulpy. Spores: The spores are 5–8.5 X 5–7.5 µm, brownish, rough, irregularly globose.
Habitat: On sandy soils, in coniferous woods, especially in pine forest. Season: Summer, autumn.
Distribution: All regions of Georgia (3).
Uses
Edibility: Edible when young and fresh (2).
References
- Makashvili, A. (1991) Botanical Dictionary. Tbilisi: Metsniereba.
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G. (2007) Fungi of Georgia. Tbilisi: Buneba Printi.
- Nakhutsrishvili, I.G., et al. (1986) Flora of Spore-producing Plants of Georgia (Summary). Tbilisi: Metsniereba (Russian).