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Deer truffle (Elaphomyces granulatus) is an inedible mushroom of the Elafomycete family. The species has other names:
- deer raincoat;
- truffle grainy;
- elafomyces granular;
- steam;
- violation;
- Purgatory.
Deer truffle is readily eaten by squirrels, hares and deer, hence its Latin name. “Elapho” in translation means “deer”, “myces” – “mushroom”.
Deer truffle looks like a potato tuber
What does deer truffle look like
Deer truffle fruit bodies develop shallowly underground – in the humus layer at a level of 2-8 cm. They are characterized by an irregular spherical shape, the surface of the fungus may be wrinkled. The size of the fruit bodies reaches 1-4 cm in diameter. Deer truffle is covered with a dense two-layer white shell (peridium) 1-2 mm thick. When cut, the flesh of the crust changes color to pinkish-gray. Outside, the fungus is strewn with small warts, which explains its specific epithet “granulatus”. Superficial tubercles are in the form of pyramids about 0,4 mm high. The outer layer of the grainy truffle can be:
- yellowish brown;
- ocher brown;
- yellowish ocher;
- golden brown;
- rusty brown;
- dark brown.
In young specimens, the flesh is light marble, divided into compartments by partitions. As it matures, the interior of the fungus turns into a dark purple or purplish brown dust. The microscopic spores are spherical, spiny, and range in color from red-brown to almost black.
The pulp has a bitter taste. The smell is earthy, well pronounced, somewhat reminiscent of raw potatoes.
The mycelium of the deer truffle penetrates the soil around the fruiting bodies. Its yellow threads are densely woven into the soil and wrap around the roots of trees. Parga fungus can be detected by the presence in the forest of another species that parasitizes it – cordyceps ophiroglossoides (Tolypocladium ophioglossoides). Its black club-shaped fruit bodies indicate that deer truffles can be found at a depth of up to 15 cm.
Gordyceps ofiroglossoid – a fungus that feeds on the remains of the fruiting bodies of underground fungi of the genus Tolipokladium
Where does the deer truffle mushroom grow
Parga is the most common mushroom of the genus Elafomyces. Deer truffle is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from the tropics to the subarctic regions. The range covers Europe and North America, China, Taiwan, the islands of Japan.
Deer truffle prefers to settle in the coastal strip, although sometimes it is also found in mountainous areas at an altitude of 2700-2800 m above sea level. The fungus loves acidic sandy or podzolic soil. It grows more often in virgin protected forests, less often in young plantings.
Forms mycorrhiza with coniferous trees, as well as with some deciduous species, such as:
- oak;
- beech;
- chestnut.
Deer truffle can be found at any time of the year, depending on the region of growth. The most massive fruiting parga observed in late summer and early autumn.
The destruction of old forests has a detrimental effect on deer truffle populations. And although it is considered quite common, in some European countries it is becoming a rarity. For example, in Bulgaria, a representative is listed in the Red Book as a species that is critically endangered.
Is it possible to eat deer truffle
Deer truffle is not recommended to be eaten. However, forest dwellers feed on its fruiting bodies, which they dig out of the ground. A squirrel can smell parga under a layer of snow 70-80 cm thick. These rodents not only eat fresh mushrooms, nibbling the shell, but also store them for the winter. Hunters use parga as bait.
The nutritional value of this species is low. Cascading ground squirrel can only absorb 30% of its proteins. Fruiting bodies are capable of accumulating large amounts of cesium, and the shell contains 8,6 times more cesium than spores. Enormous volumes of the radioactive nuclide cesium-137 entered the environment as a result of the man-made disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. The echoes of the accident still have a negative impact on the environmental situation in some European countries.
Elafomyces granulosus at the Moscow Mushroom Exhibition
Although parga can not be eaten, it has found application in traditional medicine. Siberian healers called the representative nothing more than “the elixir of the mushroom queen.” Drugs based on it were considered a strong aphrodisiac, used to restore strength after a serious illness or injury. A mixture of pine nuts, honey and crushed parga cured consumption and other diseases. In Poland, childless couples were given a mushroom tincture in red wine by doctors. Unfortunately, the exact recipes for these medicines have been lost.
Conclusion
Having found a deer truffle in the forest, similar to a walnut with numerous pimples on the surface, you do not need to dig it out for fun or idle interest. The mushroom serves as food for many species of forest animals and will appeal to, if not bears, then hares, squirrels and ungulates for sure.
