With the end of the summer camping fun and our move to Lake Garder surrounded by forests, new perspectives are also possible during our hikes in the forest in autumn: photographing and/or collecting mushrooms.

We still have good memories of going into the local forests on weekends in September and October to look for mushrooms, our favourites were always the porcini mushrooms.

Mushrooms are generally protected

But numerous other types were also of great interest to us, not just for eating. Because what many people don't know:

All local mushrooms are protected, some of them even under strict nature protection. The Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) regulates how many mushrooms of each type can be collected for personal use. While there is a general ban on collecting some types of mushrooms, it sets a collection restriction for the popular porcini mushroom and chanterelles. The following mushrooms can be collected in small quantities. According to the BArtSchV, what "small" actually means is initially decided by the authorities in the region concerned.

The guideline is: one pound to a maximum of two kilos per day and collector.

The parasol, also known as the common giant parasol mushroom

Our goal today was to walk around Lake Garda, initially on a solid road, which then turned into sandy stretches. Since the planned route will be almost 12 kilometres, there should be enough time to find one or two mushrooms. So, today's research was on the giant parasol mushroom, better known under the term parasol.

The common giant parasol mushroom can be found in almost all mesophilic forest communities and on open grassland on loamy, fresh soils. It prefers to settle in light beech, oak and oak-hornbeam forests on nutrient-rich subsoil as well as corresponding spruce forests as well as meadows and pastures, parks, path and forest edges. The ecological requirements are very similar to those of the wood anemone. The mushroom only occurs sporadically on acidic or sandy ground and only when there is a wealth of nutrients. It is rarely found in damp areas. The giant parasol mushroom is mainly found in middle-aged and older forests.

Giant parasol mushrooms sometimes grow in groups.

The giant parasol mushroom lives macrobiotically, i.e. on decomposing organic matter, for example the litter layer of forests, in sludge, feces, carrion or mulch. The fruiting bodies appear from July to November, occasionally earlier. The giant parasol mushroom, or giant parasol mushroom, is a type of mushroom from the mushroom family (Agaricaceae). In Mediterranean Europe they can be found from May onwards. They appear singly or in groups, sometimes in fairy rings.

The smaller and inedible pointed-scaled spiny parasol mushroom looks similar and grows in comparable locations. It has a distinctly unpleasant smell (“like illuminating gas”) and a hanging, non-movable ring. The very rare poisonous parasol mushroom has a non-snagged stem and turns red when injured.

The name Parasol is an outdated term for “parasol” (borrowed in the 18th century from the French parasol, from the Italian para il sole “keep the sun out”) and alludes to its characteristic shape – a large, umbrella-like hat on a long, slender stem.

Eating value – breaded parasol schnitzel

All forms of the giant parasol mushroom are edible and are even considered edible mushrooms. Usually only the caps are used, which can be prepared in a similar way to schnitzel. The stems are often tough and not suitable for direct consumption, but can be processed into mushroom powder. In very rare cases, nausea and vomiting have been reported after consumption.

Edible Mushroom of the Year 2017

The giant parasol mushroom was chosen as the edible mushroom of the year 2017 as part of European Mushroom Day.

At first, we were a little confused as to which type of mushroom this was, but we remembered Robert Krickl in Vienna, who runs a Facebook account called "natur - what, how, where". We quickly took a few photos, sent them off and a little later we had the first answers: giant parasol mushroom or parasol mushroom!

Please read as well:

Lake Garder - A paradise for nature lovers and adventurers

Durrës - Democratization is inviting tourists as well

• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
• Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder Parasol Mushroom at Lake Garder
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