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The earth fiber is one of the numerous types of agaric fungi that are part of the Volokonnitsev family. Usually mushroom pickers do not pay attention to them, because they bear little resemblance to known edible mushrooms. This is an absolutely correct approach, since earth fiber is a poisonous mushroom, and eating it can be deadly.
What does earth fiber look like
Outwardly, the earth fiber looks like a typical toadstool. She has a conical bell-shaped hat with a characteristic bulge in the center, over time it straightens out and becomes like an umbrella with the edges lowered or slightly bent inward. Usually its size does not exceed 2-4 cm in diameter, although larger specimens are also found. The cap is white at a young age, becoming bluish-purple with a pinkish tint over time, dark in the central part and lighter on the periphery. The saturation of the color depends on the place of growth of the fungus and weather conditions, there are both intensely colored and almost white specimens.
Earth fiber – a dangerous poisonous mushroom
The cap of the earth fiber is covered with a thin and pleasant to the touch skin, which has a radial fibrous structure. When it rains, it becomes sticky and slippery. The edges of the cap are often cracked. On the reverse side are numerous adherent plates. At a young age they are white, later darken and become brown or brown.
The leg of the earth fiber is solid, cylindrical, usually slightly curved. It can grow up to 5 cm long and up to 0,5 cm in diameter. It has a longitudinally fibrous structure, dense to the touch, without an internal cavity, which can form only in old mushrooms. The stem is usually slightly thicker at the base. It is light, in old mushrooms it can become brown, in its upper part there is a light coating.
The pulp of the earth fiber is white, brittle, its color does not change on the cut. It has an unpleasant taste and a slightly earthy smell.
Where does earth fiber grow?
The earth fiber grows in the forests of the temperate zone of the European part of Our Country, as well as in the Far East. It is found in North America, on the territory of the states of Western Europe, as well as in North Africa. Mushroom growth usually begins in mid-summer and ends in early October. The earth fiber is often found in small groups in the grass, along the roads, often next to the pine, with which it forms mycorrhiza.
Is it possible to eat earth fiber
It is impossible to eat earth fiber. The pulp of this mushroom contains the same toxic substance as in the fly agaric – muscarine, while its concentration in the tissues of the fungus is much higher. When it enters the human body, this poison affects the digestive organs and the central nervous system.
The earth fiber contains more poisonous muscarine than the well-known fly agaric
In small doses, it causes an upset stomach and short-term changes in the psyche, but at high concentrations, collapse, coma, and even death are possible.
A short video about one of the representatives of the Volokonnitsev family:
Symptoms of poisoning
Unpleasant consequences from eating earth fiber can be felt within 20-30 minutes from the moment the mushrooms enter the stomach. Symptoms of poisoning are the following factors:
- Sharp pains in the abdomen.
- Indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting.
- Change in heart rate, tachycardia.
- Increased salivation.
- Pupil constriction.
- Trembling limbs.
First aid for poisoning
If symptoms of poisoning with earth fiber (and other mushrooms too) appear, you should immediately contact a medical institution or call a doctor. Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to wash the affected stomach in order to remove food residues containing toxins from the body. To do this, you need to make him drink a large amount of water, slightly colored with potassium permanganate, and then make him vomit.
To reduce the chills of the victim, it is better to wrap
To reduce the absorption of toxins in the stomach tissue, the victim must take any absorbent. It can be, for example, activated charcoal, the dose of which is calculated based on the weight of the victim (1 tablet per 10 kg). You can use other remedies for poisoning, such as Enterosgel or the like. Before the arrival of doctors, the victim must lie down.
Conclusion
The earth fiber is a dangerous poisonous mushroom. She has no edible counterparts, so cases of poisoning are relatively rare for her, and there are no reports of deaths. However, when picking mushrooms, care should always be taken to avoid dubious or unknown specimens.