Birch honey agaric: photo, how they look, use

A photo and description of mushrooms on a birch will allow you not to confuse this delicious mushroom with false fruiting bodies that are dangerous to human health and life. Knowing the appearance of the edible mushroom, you can safely go on a “quiet hunt”.

Do mushrooms grow on a birch

Different types of mushrooms grow on deciduous trees, but most often they can be found on a birch. It is important to take into account the fact that the tree on which the mushrooms settle must be already dead or weakened.

What honey mushrooms look like on a birch

Birch mushrooms are small fruiting bodies, reaching a height of no more than 15 cm. They grow in whole large groups, which makes it possible to distinguish them from some parasitic fungi.

To be sure to recognize the honey agaric, it is worth examining its appearance in detail. Moreover, it is almost identical in all types of these mushrooms (summer, autumn, etc.):

1. Hat. In a young specimen, it has a hemispherical shape. Over time, the edges begin to bend down, forming a kind of umbrella, in the center of which there is a slight bulge. The diameter of the cap varies from 2 to 10 cm, and there are scales on its surface, but they can also disappear with age. The color of the upper part of the mushroom can be different – from light beige to reddish shades. But most often there are mushrooms with a yellowish-red hat.

   

2. Pulp. In any honey agaric, it is tender and smooth, has a yellowish-white color. For better viability, the fungus collects water, so the inside of the fruiting body is quite wet. The aroma from the birch honey agaric emanates a pleasant, similar to the smell of raw wood.

   

3. Leg. It grows up to 15 cm, but the color depends not only on the age of the fungus, but also on where it grows. The young specimen has a light honey color, as it grows, the lower part of the fruiting body darkens and turns brown. On the legs you can see a skirt, which is the hallmark of the mushroom, being the main distinguishing feature of the edible mushroom. In addition, it protects the fruiting body from breaking during strong gusts of wind.

   

What mushrooms grow under birches

In the photo you can see how birch mushrooms grow, forming a whole bracelet on destroyed stumps and parts of trees (by the way, the word honey agaric is translated as a bracelet). Mushrooms are distributed almost everywhere. But they won the greatest popularity among the inhabitants of Eastern Europe and Our Country.

Productivity directly depends on the amount of moisture in the territory of its growth. They can be found in large numbers only in deciduous forests, where the humidity level is always quite high. At the same time, all types of honey mushrooms are found there – spring, summer, autumn and winter. In mixed plantations, it will be more problematic to collect a full basket of mushrooms, and the quiet hunting season is also important, because in such forests they appear only in the autumn.

Not only edible mushrooms can grow on a birch. Therefore, it is important to study all types of these fruiting bodies that are found on the stumps of deciduous trees.

Autumn

Autumn birch mushrooms belong to the physalacrium family. They are found in humid forests in the Northern Hemisphere. They grow on the stumps of birches and other deciduous trees. The cap of the fruiting body grows up to 17 cm, the color is rich brown. There are many scales on the surface. The flesh is white and firm. The stem cannot exceed 11 cm in length, the diameter is approximately 15 cm. The peak of productivity occurs in the first decade of September.

Summer

This species belongs to the Strophariaceae family. It can grow on birches and other deciduous trees. Prefers a temperate climate. The cap of the fruiting body is small – about 5 cm in diameter. At first, the top has a semicircular shape, but then it becomes almost flat. Color – dull yellow or brown, depending on how much moisture falls on a particular season. The more rainfall, the lighter the shade will be. In the center of the upper part of the birch honey agaric there is a small tubercle, which stands out in a lighter tone from the rest of the surface, but during heavy rains, on the contrary, it becomes quite dark. There are no scales on the cap, and a thin mucous coating can be observed.

The leg of the fungus does not grow more than 7 cm. It is covered with scaly formations that have a dark color, they do not disappear with age. The peak of productivity falls on the summer season, although the first birch mushrooms appear in April and do not leave until November.

Winter

Winter honey agaric belongs to the families of Tricholomov and ordinary. Prefers to grow in the Northern climatic zones on birch stumps and poplars. The cap of the fruiting body can vary from 2 to 10 cm in diameter. The shape is flat, the color is light yellow. The lower part of the birch honey agaric is also small – about 5-7 cm. At the same time, it is dense, on the surface there are many small villi that serve to retain moisture in the fruiting body. Hunting for this mushroom can be carried out both in spring and autumn, since it is able to tolerate even fairly low air temperatures.

Spring

Spring mushrooms are representatives of the Negniuchnikov family. They prefer to grow alone in mixed forests. Therefore, this species is difficult to meet on birch stumps. And most novice mushroom pickers often confuse an edible specimen with some kind of poisonous “brothers”.

Useful properties of birch mushrooms

To evaluate the benefits of birch mushrooms, you need to familiarize yourself with their composition. In the fruiting bodies are present:

• vitamins – PP, E, B, C;
• cellulose;
• ash;
• Sahara;
• amino acids;
• trace elements – potassium and magnesium, iron and sodium, calcium and copper, phosphorus and zinc.

Also, fruiting bodies are not forbidden to eat during fasting. Therefore, they should be present on the table of believers who are subjected to long-term serious stress associated with food restrictions.

The benefits of birch mushrooms:

1. Since mushrooms contain many mineral salts of iron, magnesium, zinc and copper, their use has a beneficial effect on blood formation processes. Experts recommend diversifying your diet with mushrooms for anemia – you can cover the daily need for these trace elements by consuming only 100 g per day, which will help raise hemoglobin.
2. Birch mushrooms have anti-cancer and antimicrobial effects.
3. Fruiting bodies allow you to cope with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Lotions, ointments and tinctures are made from them.
4. When using mushrooms, the work of many vital functions, in particular, the thyroid gland, is normalized.
5. In ancient times, people used an extract from birch mushrooms to treat minor wounds and cuts, various skin diseases, bruises and migraines.
6. In Europe, the mushrooms in question are not accepted as a food product, but medicines are made from them. Injections and tablets based on fruiting bodies are used for tuberculosis, to increase immunity during radiation therapy and other ailments associated with a general weakening of the body and its poisoning with toxins.

In addition to the benefits, birch mushrooms can also have a negative impact. Therefore, it is worth highlighting several possible problems associated with the use of mushrooms:

1. Individual intolerance.
2. Peptic ulcer of the stomach in the acute stage.
3. Gastritis.
4. Flatulence.

Collection and use of birch mushrooms

The time when you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of mushrooms depends entirely on the climatic conditions of a particular region and the type of fruiting body. But in rainy weather, birch mushrooms are much more common. Therefore, lovers of quiet hunting prefer to go out into the forest during or immediately after rainfall.

Mushroom pulp is able to absorb all the harmful substances contained in the atmosphere. Therefore, experts strongly recommend harvesting in places that are far from industrial enterprises and landfills, areas of roads and railways. At the same time, areas after forest fires are among the best for quiet hunting.

Today, mushrooms can not only be found and collected in a birch grove, many people buy them in stores. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. Products grown in artificial conditions are safe for consumption.
2. Mushrooms are no different from forest counterparts, including taste and useful properties.
3. Raw materials can be carefully checked at all stages, starting with planting and ending with the packaging of fruiting bodies.

You can use birch mushrooms in different variations:

1. Soup preparation.
2. Hot.
3. Pickling.
4. Salting.
5. Boiling.
6. Drying.
7. Baking.
8. Use as a filling for dumplings, kulebyaks and pies, bases for salads and vegetable caviar.

Experts recommend not to eat fresh mushrooms. It is best to pre-boil the raw materials and only then use it to prepare a variety of dishes.

Conclusion

A photo and description of mushrooms on a birch will allow you to accurately determine the type of fruiting body and its edibility. This information will be especially useful for beginners who love quiet hunting.