Russula pungent - description, where it grows, poisonous

Pungent russula is usually confused with an ordinary russula, which also belongs to the russula family. Otherwise, this variety of fruiting bodies is called nauseous, caustic, biliary, and even vomiting. The fungus belongs to inedible specimens, its consumption in food leads to disastrous consequences. However, this can already be understood from the name, since after getting into the human body it starts to feel sick, vomiting and other negative symptoms appear. In today's article, we will study everything so that you make your own conclusions.

Description

1. According to their external characteristics, these representatives of the genus are similar to ordinary russula. However, in an inedible specimen, the soft part is more compacted. In color, it is pink-purple or red-orange. In any case, the central part is darker than the edges.
2. Over the course of life, the fruiting body does not change color. The skin of the apex remains glossy, it may be sticky. No need to work to separate it from the rest of the pulp.
3. Considering the format of the hat, we say that in young animals the upper part is initially convex. Along the edges it is pressed to the base. Over the course of the life cycle, it becomes flattened, somewhat comparable to an ordinary saucer.
4. In grown fruit bodies, the apex in diameter is about 12 cm. This is the maximum value, upon reaching which cracks form on the edges, the flesh is visible.
5. This mushroom belongs to the lamellar. The plates are close, they are strong. They are regular and uniform in shape, with sharp edges. Attached with the same density to the base and inside of the hat. Pigmented in white.
6. The leg is brittle, when pressed, shows all its fragility and crumbles. It is painted light, almost white. When cut, it gets dark. It is 2 cm in thickness and stretches up to 9 cm in length. The soft part is thin, loosens to old age, there is no aroma.

Growth

1. These family members are common in our country. They prefer to grow in dark places. They find specimens in the Far East among fir, spruce, and cedar trees.
2. They can live in the mountains, provided that there are suitable climatic conditions. They are found on peat bogs, live one at a time or in groups.
3. These fruiting bodies always give preference to soil with high acidity, in which there are a lot of organic substances. These mushrooms can settle next to the russula edible type. Fruits begin from mid-summer to mid-autumn.

Edibility

1. Some mushroom specialists classify these fruiting bodies as conditionally edible. However, this was refuted by leading mycologists, who proved the harmfulness of specimens on the human digestive system. Not only because of the lack of pulp, mushrooms should be considered inedible. They are also toxic.
2. With systematic consumption, harmful substances accumulate in the body. First, the metabolism slows down, then problems are observed against this background. The intestines and stomach also suffer greatly. The name speaks for itself. With the consumption of mushrooms in food, nausea, vomiting appears, the production of bile increases.
3. Even taking into account the taste, this russula came up with a name. She was called a caustic for a reason, but for a specific juice and its notes. Moreover, absolutely all sections of the fungus have this same caustic. But the hat is considered the most dangerous, which you do not even need to try.
4. Despite all the above, we will highlight some aspects.Even if, due to inexperience, you accidentally added these specimens to the basket of edible russula, they will not spoil the dish much and will not lead to intoxication (provided that no more than 2 mushrooms are consumed).

Symptoms of poisoning

1. If you eat enough mushrooms, then you will provoke poisoning. Against this background, vomiting, nausea, other problems with the gastrointestinal tract will appear. The first symptoms and pain come to light in a couple of hours.
2. If the poisoning is mild, then diarrhea will develop. Pain in the liver may be observed, but this is rare and depends on the body. In severe situations, vomiting is accompanied by dehydration and fever.
3. You yourself need to feel unwell, it is difficult to confuse with anything. If you turn to specialists in a timely manner, carry out gastric lavage, everything will end quickly enough.

In today's article, we examined a representative of the russula family, which is called caustic or vomiting due to its inedibility. Drinking can lead to poisoning, so learn to distinguish between poisonous and edible specimens.

Video: Russula eared (Russula emetica)