Ata ma fa'amatalaga

fused rowweed (Leucocybe connata)

The fused row, previously assigned to the genus Lyophyllum (Lyophyllum), is currently included in another genus – Leucocybe. The systematic position of the genus Leucocybe is not entirely clear, therefore it is included in the Tricholomataceae family sensu lato.

Ua:

The diameter of the cap of the fused row is 3-8 cm, in youth it is convex, cushion-shaped, gradually opens with age; the edges of the cap unfold, often giving it an irregular shape. Color – whitish, often with a yellow, ocher or lead (after frost) tint. The center tends to be somewhat darker than the edges; sometimes hygrophane concentric zones can be distinguished on the cap. The pulp is white, dense, with a slight “row” smell.

Faamaumauga:

White, narrow, frequent, slightly descending or adnate with a tooth.

Spora pauta:

Lanu paʻepaʻe.

Vaʻa:

Height 3-7 cm, the color of the cap, smooth, hard, fibrous, thickened in the upper part. Because Leucocybe connata often appears as clumps of several mushrooms, the stems are often deformed and twisted.

Faʻasalalau:

It occurs from the beginning of autumn (in my experience – from mid-August) until the end of October in forests of various types, preferring sparse areas, often growing along forest roads and on the roads themselves (our case). As a rule, it bears fruit in bunches (bundles), uniting 5-15 specimens of different sizes.

Ituaiga tutusa:

Given the characteristic way of growth, it is difficult to confuse a fused row with any other mushroom: it seems that no other white mushrooms form such dense aggregations.

The mushroom is edible, but, according to the unanimous statements of prominent authors, it is completely tasteless.