Contents
The reddish-yellow hedgehog (Hydnum repandum) is a member of the Hedgehog family, the genus Gidnum. It is also known as the red-haired blackberry. Below is information about this mushroom: a description of the appearance, habitat, distinguishing features from twins, edibility, and much more.
Description of the reddish-yellow hedgehog
Is a wild species
This specimen is a fruiting body with a reddish-brown cap and a cylindrical stem. The flesh is fragile, hardens with age, especially the legs. Cream or white spore powder.
Cap Description
In dry weather, the mushroom cap fades and acquires a pale yellow tone.
At a young age, the cap of a blackberry is reddish-yellow, convex in shape with edges bent down, in the future it becomes almost flat with a depressed center. The surface is velvety to the touch, at the initial stage of ripening it is colored orange with a nutty or red tint, in mature it fades and becomes light yellow or ocher. As a rule, the cap has an uneven shape, this is especially noticeable in adult fruits. When pressed, the surface of the cap darkens. On the inner side there are thin, descending, easily broken off small spines, the size of which reaches 8 mm. They are painted white or yellowish.
Description of the leg
The leg of this specimen is weakly attached to the ground.
The leg of a reddish-yellow blackberry is cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, the height of which varies from 3 to 8 cm, and the thickness is up to 2,5 cm in diameter. The structure is fibrous, dense, continuous, rarely with caverns. The surface is smooth, at the base there is a felt fluff. Colored in light yellow shades, darkens with age.
Twins and their differences
Many representatives of the Hedgehog family are similar in appearance to chanterelles. However, a distinctive feature is the presence of needles, which are not characteristic of the latter species. In addition, the following species are referred to as twins of the reddish-yellow blackberry:
- Yezhovik yellow – belongs to the category of edible mushrooms. The cap is irregular in shape, bumpy, dense, 3-12 cm in diameter. At the initial stage of development, it is slightly convex with curved edges down, then it becomes flat with a sagging center. Quite often grows together with their relatives living in the neighborhood. The color of the cap varies from pale ocher to reddish-orange, becoming lighter shades in dry weather. When pressed, it starts to darken.
The flesh is brittle, yellow or white, becoming bitter with age. For germination, it prefers a temperate climate; it is found in North America, Siberia and the Far East. They differ from the reddish-yellow blackberry in larger and more massive caps and short legs. It is also worth paying attention to the structure of the hymenophore, since the twin needles descend quite low to the stem.
- Systotherma confluent – a rare species, in connection with this, its edibility is unknown. It is similar to the blackberry in the reddish-yellow color of the fruiting bodies, the texture of the pulp, and also in mass growth. However, the distinguishing feature is that the twins are inferior in size, since the cap in diameter reaches no more than 3 cm, and the stem is up to 2 cm in height. reticulate-porous relief, and over time acquires spines with jagged edges.
Where and how does the red-yellow blackberry grow
Blackberry reddish-yellow grows mainly in mixed forests, forms mycorrhiza with coniferous and deciduous trees. In most cases, it grows in small groups, sometimes grows together with hats with its relatives. It settles on the ground, in low grass or among moss. In forests, the reddish-yellow blackberry is quite rare, most common in the Northern Hemisphere. The best growing time is from June to October.
Edible mushroom red-yellow hedgehog or not
Hedgehog reddish-yellow belongs to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms. It is eaten exclusively at a young age, since overripe specimens are very bitter and taste like a rubber cork. This type is used for frying, boiling, and is also suitable as preparations for the winter, so it can be pickled, dried and frozen.
How to cook red and yellow urchins
Various dishes can be prepared from these gifts of the forest: soups, side dishes, salads, sauces. They are especially popular fried with onions and sour cream. Due to the fleshy pulp and dense structure, mushrooms almost do not decrease in size during the heat treatment, which is undoubtedly an advantage. However, before preparing this or that dish, it is necessary to process the gifts of the forest. For this you should:
- Clean the collected mushrooms from forest debris. For heavy soiling, you can use a toothbrush or a small cloth.
- Remove all spines.
- Rinse under running water.
- Cook reddish-yellow urchins for at least 30 minutes, removing the foam.
Only after the above actions can the reddish-yellow urchin be used in cooking.
The taste of these mushrooms has a pleasant sourness.
Useful properties of red-haired blackberry
Thanks to the useful substances that make up the red-haired blackberry, this specimen is used in folk and traditional medicine. So, ointments based on it help to eliminate various skin diseases, and the pulp of mushrooms is great as a mask for moisturizing the skin. In addition, this species has the following medicinal properties:
- positively affects the nervous system;
- promotes rapid blood renewal;
- has regenerating properties;
- improves the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- has an antibacterial effect;
- favorably affects the condition of nails, hair and skin;
- strengthens the immune system.
Thus, the regular use of these mushrooms has a positive effect on the state of the whole organism.
Conclusion
The reddish-yellow hedgehog is not the most popular mushroom, and therefore many sources classify it as little known. In addition, some reference books attribute this species to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms, others to edible ones. However, experts agree that this specimen does not contain toxic substances. As practice shows, reddish-yellow blackberry can be eaten, but only after preliminary heat treatment. Also, when picking mushrooms, it is worth remembering that only young specimens are suitable for preparing various dishes, since overripe forest products have a bitter taste.