cobweb

Cobwebs (Cortinarius) is a rather extensive genus of mushrooms, numbering more than 40 species in our country, and worldwide this figure crosses the two thousandth threshold. ^[1]. Most of their representatives are inedible, and some are generally deadly poisonous. The name of some species of these mushrooms speaks for itself: what is the superb cobweb or elegant cobweb worth. Their other name is pribolotniki or ringed caps.

Brief description and habitat

Cobwebs are agaric mushrooms. Their main feature may well be a bright color. They are found in purple, bright yellow, dark red, terracotta and other colors. ^[2]. Some species names arose precisely because of this feature: purple cobweb, crimson cobweb, watery blue cobweb and others. And the name of the whole genus of fungi was given by a cobweb film, like a veil enveloping its representatives. The cobweb cover is clearly visible in young mushrooms: it connects the stem and the edges of the cap. And in mature representatives of the genus, a thin film breaks as it grows and becomes like a cobweb entangling the leg of a mushroom. Some of its threads hang from the cap, but more often they remain in the lower part of the stem in the form of a cobweb ring. These mushrooms are very similar to each other and only experienced mushroom pickers can distinguish one type of cobweb from another.

All representatives of this genus have a round, flat hat as they grow, often raised in the middle. To the touch, it is smooth, fibrous, less often scaly. Both the mucous surface of the cap and dry can occur. Its flesh is fleshy, thin, often white, but can be multi-colored. The plates are frequent, descending, and the stem is cylindrical, sometimes with a thickening at the base. It will always show the remnants of a cobweb bedspread. It almost coincides in color with the surface of the cap, sometimes it can differ only in the intensity of the shade. Spore powder in mushrooms is usually yellow and brown-yellow. In general, cobwebs are very similar to toadstools, so it is quite difficult to confuse them with edible mushrooms.

These mushrooms love moist, marshy soil. Often they can be found on the outskirts of the swamps, which is why they got the name “marsh”. Cobwebs grow in deciduous and mixed forests, and are less commonly observed in coniferous ones. This is a widespread genus. Their habitat is the European part of Russia, Siberia, the Far East, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan. In Europe, they are often found in Austria, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Finland, Switzerland, Romania, Latvia and Estonia. You can also find them in the USA and Japan. However, although they are so ubiquitous, they are quite rare mushrooms. Some of their species, for example, the purple cobweb, are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and other countries.

Useful Properties

Despite the fact that some of the cobweb species are poisonous, this does not reduce their importance due to the content of valuable substances in them that have practical applications in medicine. Some of the representatives of this genus are used as raw materials for the manufacture of dyes. For this, mushrooms are predominantly brown or ocher in color.

Edible and conditionally edible representatives are successfully used for culinary purposes, having previously undergone additional processing in the form of long-term boiling with frequent water changes. In cooking, such types of mushrooms as water-blue cobweb, excellent cobweb, purple cobweb, yellow cobweb are often used.

These are the most commonly eaten species. Other species are edible, but many of them are useless and do not carry any taste value. However, even well-known species need to be collected only by experienced mushroom pickers.

The types of cobwebs used in cooking can be consumed boiled, salted, fried, pickled, canned. Various first and second courses are incomparable with them. Many connoisseurs say that these mushrooms have a nutty flavor.

Roasted Spider Web Recipe

For preparation you will need:

• edible or conditionally edible cobwebs – 500 grams;
• flour – 4 tablespoons;
• vegetable oil – 3 tablespoons;
• greens.

First, fresh mushrooms must be thoroughly boiled, repeatedly changing the water. Then cut them into small pieces. Pour into preheated skillet and cook until almost done. Then add flour to the mushrooms and continue cooking. On top of the dish, you can decorate with herbs and serve. It is best to consume it hot.

Types of mushrooms and medicinal properties

The most famous species of this genus are:

• cobweb yellow or triumphant bog – edible;
• cobweb purple – conditionally edible;
• cobweb orange – conditionally edible;
• cobweb crimson – conditionally edible;
• cobweb shiny – poisonous;
• cobweb bracelet – edible;
• cobweb variable – conditionally edible;
• cobweb brown – conditionally edible;
• cobweb smeared – conditionally edible;
• cobweb excellent – edible;
• cobweb straight – conditionally edible;
• cobweb red-olive – inedible;
• gossamer cobweb – conditionally edible;
• cobweb scaly – inedible ^[3][4].

Some representatives of this genus are considered poisonous mushrooms, but this does not reduce their medicinal properties.

Cobweb red

The reddish, semi-blood red, and blood red species are categorized as poisonous. They bear a close resemblance to the inedible cobweb purple and have pronounced antiseptic properties. The substances included in its composition prevent the development of tuberculosis mycobacteria. Found in coniferous forests. They like moist, mossy soil. Fruiting from July to September.

Cobweb bracelet

The mushroom has a yellow-brown or brown-red color, but as it grows, the terracotta color prevails and becomes more saturated. It resembles a triumphant cobweb. This is a conditionally edible mushroom, used in cooking only after careful pre-treatment. For medicinal purposes, it is used as an antiseptic. Forms mycorrhiza only with birch. Picky in the choice of soil and prefers marshy acidic environment. Fruiting from July to early October.

Cobweb broken

The color of the fungus is multifaceted: from grayish-green to black-olive with brown and brown impurities. It is very similar to many representatives of this species, but differs from them by the absence of smell, a very bitter taste and black color of the plates. The alkaloids that make up its composition, in laboratory studies, showed good results in the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, which is one of the main types of therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. This mushroom is considered poisonous. It occurs mainly in deciduous and mixed forests, loves calcareous soils. Forms mycorrhiza with oak and beech. Fruiting from July to October.

Goat web

The mushroom is pale lilac in color, becoming ocher-white with age. It is similar to camphor cobweb, which has the same unpleasant specific smell. It differs from the rare type of purple cobweb in the rusty color of the plates, from the white-violet representative – in a more saturated color, from the purple line – in a strong repulsive aroma and a tangled wide veil. The mushroom is inedible. Its consumption is not recommended. For medical purposes, it is used due to its pronounced antibacterial properties. In its composition, an antibiotic, inolomin, was identified.

Harm and Hazardous Properties

Some types of cobwebs are very toxic and poisonous. ^[5]. They are most dangerous because signs of poisoning by them can appear after a few days or even weeks, since they contain delayed-action toxins. Their poison is very detrimental to the kidneys and can provoke a disease such as acute interstitial nephritis. ^[6][7]. Even irreversible changes in the structure of the kidneys and death are possible. ^[8]. According to statistics, for seven cases of poisoning, one fatal.

The characteristic signs of cobweb poisoning are burning and dry mouth, intense thirst followed by vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. Often the condition is accompanied by headache and pain in the lumbar region. Even if you notice the symptoms in time and consult a doctor, recovery and treatment will take quite a long time.

In order to protect yourself, it is important to remember the first rule of the mushroom picker: if there is any doubt about the edibility or inedibility of the mushroom, then it is customary to consider it obviously poisonous. In general, it is better not to take risks and entrust the collection of cobwebs to specialists who can confidently distinguish a good mushroom from its poisonous counterpart.

By the way, when preparing good edible mushrooms, it is worth remembering that violations in technology and non-compliance with processing rules can also lead to severe poisoning and sad consequences.

First aid for poisoning

For any type of poisoning, immediate medical attention is required before the arrival of an ambulance. ^[9]. It is advisable not to transport the patient to the clinic, as some toxins can cause disturbances in the activity of the cardiovascular system.

Before the arrival of the doctor should:

• put the patient to bed;
• perform repeated gastric lavage;
• give a laxative to drink to remove the poison from the intestines;
• do a cleansing enema.

In case of poisoning, severe dehydration of the body occurs, so it is recommended that the patient drink saline solutions, for example, rehydron, give the victim cool strong teas or salted water. With calf cramps, which often occur precisely because of dehydration, you can put mustard plasters on the lower leg.

If everything was done correctly, and the danger was noticed at an early stage, then after such measures, the victim may already feel an improvement in 2-3 hours.

However, this is not a reason to refuse hospitalization on the recommendation of a doctor.

Conclusions

Cobwebs are quite rare and mostly dangerous mushrooms. ^[10]. This does not stop some gourmets from collecting various members of this genus for culinary purposes. Many mushrooms are quite tasty and are often eaten after being pre-processed.

Before preparing a dish of cobwebs, they must be thoroughly boiled, changing the water several times. However, only experienced mushroom pickers will be able to cope with such an overwhelming task as determining which type of cobweb a particular mushroom belongs to.

The fact is that they are very similar to each other and an ignorant person can confuse an edible representative with his dangerous and toxic relative.

Cobwebs are very scary because of the slow-acting toxins they contain. Poisoning with these mushrooms does not appear immediately, but after a rather long period of time, which can be 14 days.

In some cases, they lead to pathological changes in the body, and sometimes even death. In case of mushroom poisoning, the victim should immediately be given first aid in the form of gastric lavage and emptying of the intestinal contents, as well as provide plenty of fluids to avoid dangerous dehydration.

But even the most poisonous mushrooms do not lose their medicinal properties. They contain substances from which, with the right technology in the laboratory, you can extract various components used to create antibiotics and other drugs. ^[11][12].

Cobweb is a rather valuable mushroom, but it is valued mainly for its medical indicators. Due to its taste properties, it is not particularly popular. Cobwebs are quite rare and little-known mushrooms, so it’s better not to take risks and refuse to eat them in favor of other edible, tastier and more famous representatives.

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