The parasol mushroom is a tall mushroom with slightly brownish scales on its white, flattened dome. It has a delicate flavour. Good baked with butter and garlic, or fried. It grows well in sandy soil under trees. Anna Pavord gives a lovely description of these mushrooms "Luckily, they are easy to identify. The snakeskin stalk is finely streaked cream and purple. The top is cream, flaked with brown, and the parasol rises to a distinct bump in the middle, which is all brown. The gills are cream coloured and the whole thing, once opened, can measure more than 8" (20cm) across. (If gathering mushrooms you must be absolutely certain what you have before you eat them as many are very poisonous.)
