Podolansky - description of where it grows, poisonous mushroom

A real mushroom picker knows how pleasant it is to wander through the woods in warm weather with the onset of the mushroom season, going on a quiet mushroom hunt. If the season is successful, then what mushrooms just can not be found in the forest. Large and small, of different colors and shapes, they are all equally interesting for a real mushroom picker. In the mushroom kingdom there are many representatives that are well known even to beginner mushroom pickers. For example, almost everyone knows what is a white mushroom or boletus. But we can say with confidence that not every mushroom picker is familiar with the alder. Therefore, probably, the time has come to get to know him better.

general description

In Latin, its name sounds like Gyrodon invidus, The name is beautiful, but is the mushroom itself? It is a rare edible mushroom. He is a member of the Pig Family.

Where is it growing?

For its growth, it selects places where moist soil with an abundance of moss. I must say that the period during which the fungus bears fruit is not limited by strict limits. The start of this period is the middle of summer, and it ends its bearing in the first months of autumn. The name was given to the fungus by its ability to enter into a mycorrhizal relationship with an alder.

Toxic or not?

This is a completely edible mushroom, although it does not enjoy wide popularity. Not many people know about him. This fact is not accidental, since the mushroom does not have sufficient nutritional value. It is rarely consumed as food, hence its modest role in the popularity rating.

What does it look like?

The mushroom cap has an uneven wavy surface. A marked narrowing is noted in the direction from the center to the edges. If you try the surface of the hat to the touch, you can note pronounced dryness. During periods of rainy weather, the surface becomes sticky. The hat is painted yellow with the presence of brown shades. In diameter, it can reach 20 cm, but usually differs by more modest indicators.

The inner surface of the cap is represented by a non-thick spongy layer. It is characteristic of him that after touching, he turns blue. Then the color takes on a brown character. With growth, the shape and nature of the pores changes. At first, they look like labyrinths, and eventually take an angular character. The spongy layer has a yellowish color. The mushroom has an even leg, the color of which is identical to the hat. The leg can reach a height of 7 cm. If the hat is distinguished by the presence of fleshy pulp, then in the leg it is of a dense nature, with distinct fibers and is colored yellowish.

The spores are characterized by a rounded shape. Spore powder is buffy brown.

The fungus is a typical tubular hymenophore. As the name implies, he likes to be in the place where the alder grows, namely, under it.

How to use?

This mushroom is consumed only fresh, of course, after a thorough heat treatment. It is impossible to harvest alder for the winter, such as drying, pickling or salting. Used exclusively at a young age.

Characteristically, this representative does not have any similarities with poisonous mushrooms. In some European countries it is listed in the Red Book and is under state protection.

It must be said that in the family of piglets this fungus is not the only representative. It leads to many other mushrooms. For example, hirudon is myrrhoid. This species is part of the group of conditionally edible mushrooms. The hat in diameter reaches 12.5 cm. In the young mushroom, the hat is slightly convex, the edges are tucked. Over time, it takes the form of a funnel. The hat is characterized by a smooth surface. The color is red-brown or tan. The flesh of the cap has a pronounced density, has a yellow color. She has practically no taste and smell. The tubes are characterized by a dark yellow color. If they are damaged, their color acquires a blue-green hue.

The leg can grow up to 5 cm in length. It has an eccentric shape with different colors in different parts. At the top, it has a dark yellow color, and closer to the bottom, the color becomes brown or even black. The fungus is characterized by group growth. Of course, single instances can also be found, but this is extremely rare. The beginning of the fruiting period is summer and it ends only in the middle of autumn.