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Cobweb orange or apricot-yellow belongs to the category of rare mushrooms and is one of the representatives of the Spider web family. It can be recognized by its glossy surface and apricot yellow cap. It occurs most often in small groups, rarely singly. In official reference books, it is listed as Cortinarius armeniacus.
Description of the orange cobweb
The orange cobweb prefers proximity to spruce trees and acidic soil.
This species has a standard shape of the fruiting body. Therefore, his hat and leg are clearly expressed. But in order not to make a mistake with the choice when picking mushrooms, you should study the features of the appearance.
Cap Description
The upper part of the orange cobweb is initially convex, and subsequently opens and becomes flat. In some specimens, a tubercle is sometimes preserved in the center. The diameter of the upper part can reach 3-8 cm. The hat has the ability to absorb moisture. After rain, it begins to shine and becomes covered with a thin mucous layer. When dry, it has an ocher-yellow hue, and when moistened, it acquires an orange-brown color.
With high humidity, the mushroom cap becomes glossy
On the reverse side there are frequent brown-brown plates, adherent with a tooth. At maturity, the spores acquire a rusty-brown hue.
The spores are elliptical in shape and densely covered with warts. Their size is 8-9,5 x 4,5-5,5 microns.
Description of the leg
Cylindrical stalk, widened at the base, with a slight tuber. Its height reaches 6-10 cm, and the diameter in the section is 1,5 cm.
The leg retains a dense structure throughout the entire growth period
The surface is silky white with barely noticeable light belts. When cut, the pulp is dense without any voids.
Where and how to grow
This species prefers to grow in conifers, but to a greater extent – in spruce forests. The fruiting season begins at the end of July and continues until the beginning of October.
Widely distributed in Eurasia and North America.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The orange cobweb is considered conditionally edible. Therefore, it should be eaten only after preliminary boiling for 15-20 minutes. Then you can stew, marinate, bake, combining with other mushrooms and vegetables.
Twins and their differences
There are several mushrooms that are similar in appearance to the orange cobweb. Therefore, in order not to make a mistake when collecting, you need to know their characteristic differences.
Doubles:
- Peacock cobweb. Poison mushroom. It can be recognized by its brick-orange scaly cap with ragged edges. The leg is dense, strong, the pulp is fibrous, odorless. The lower part is also covered with scales. Grows in mountainous areas near beeches. The official name is Cortinarius pavonius.
The hat of this species remains dry even in high humidity.
- Mucus cobweb. Belongs to the category of conditionally edible, therefore, requires preliminary processing. It is characterized by a large cap and a large amount of mucus on it. The color of the upper part is brown or brown. The leg is fusiform. It grows in pine and mixed forests. The official name is Cortinarius mucifluus.
Mucus in this species flows even along the edge of the cap
Conclusion
The orange cobweb is not so often found in the forest, so it is not very popular with mushroom pickers. In addition, few can distinguish it from inedible species, and therefore, in order not to make a mistake, they bypass it.
