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Cobwebs are agaric mushrooms little known even to lovers of “silent hunting”, which must be collected with extreme caution. In the people they are called bog farmers, because they grow in marshy soils near swamps. Representatives of the family are distinguished by mucus on the surface of the fruiting bodies. The slimy cobweb also loves moist soils, but grows in pine forests.
Description of the cobweb mucous
The slimy cobweb differs in medium size, different colors of individual parts, as well as the surface of the body covered with mucus. Such a representative grows quite large – up to 16 cm in height. Its dense pulp has a whitish color with an unexpressed brightly fruity aroma. Spores are dark brown, rusty.
Cap Description
At a young age, this representative of the mushroom family has a hemispherical chestnut or light brown hat. Its shade is darker in the center than at the edges. In adulthood, it becomes convex, and later acquires an almost flat, prostrate shape. The surface of the cap is moist, shiny, mucous. Brown, brown adherent plates are placed with an average frequency. The diameter is from 5 to 10 cm.
Description of the leg
A thin and long stem grows up to 15 cm in height, reaching a diameter of about 2 cm. It has a regular cylindrical shape, tapering from below, and a light color that acquires a dark shade at the base. In the upper part of the leg, the mucous substance is not observed, and the surface is smooth and silky.
Where and how to grow
Preferring forests with a predominance of coniferous trees, the slimy cobweb settles under pines and forms mycorrhiza with them. It grows alone and is quite rare in the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere. This species actively bears fruit from the end of summer until the October cold.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Abroad, the slimy cobweb belongs to inedible mushrooms, but in Our Country it is classified as a conditionally edible category. Before eating, the fruiting bodies are thoroughly washed and boiled for 30 minutes. The broth is drained and not used for food.
Twins and their differences
The slippery, slimy surface is the distinguishing feature of this fungus. Among the representatives of the family there are twins. These include:
- slime cobweb, which at a young age has a bell-shaped hat, which eventually acquires a flat shape. Surface color – brown or brown, with a yellowish tinge. Leg is white. The entire fruiting body is covered with mucus, it can even hang from the cap along the edges. The fungus is distinguished by the absence of smell and taste, grows in coniferous and mixed forests. The species is conditionally edible.
- Dirty cobweb has a helical cylindrical leg, which is wrapped in a cobweb. The fungus grows not under the pines, unlike the slimy representative, but under the spruces. It has a bell-shaped or prostrate hat, shiny and moist. The variety is edible.
Conclusion
Cobweb slimy does not apply to high quality mushrooms. However, he also has his fans who know the peculiarities of processing fruiting bodies and cooking non-traditional dishes. Like all representatives of the conditionally edible category, it requires complex heat treatment. However, it is better for novice mushroom pickers to bypass such exotics.
