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Exsidia compressed is a little-studied mushroom, which, perhaps, only avid mushroom pickers know about. What are these gifts of the forest, it is worth knowing before the start of the “quiet hunt”.
What does Exsidia compressed look like?
It resembles a mushroom with a closed shell with a barely noticeable stalk 2-3 cm long. The fruit body is erect, round, leaf-shaped, compact, disc-shaped or in the form of an inverted cone in shape. As a rule, the surface of a young compressed exsidia is smooth, but with time it becomes folded and wrinkled.
Color – from yellow and amber shades to red-brown, and when dried, the flesh begins to blacken. The edge of the fruiting body is wavy-wrinkled. It is characterized by an inexpressive taste and smell.
Four-spore basidia with a buckle at the base and long cylindrical sterigmata, reach sizes of 10-13 × 7-10 µm. Spores 12-14×3-4 µm, thin-walled, hyaline, allantoid with a pronounced apex.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Mushrooms of this genus have several varieties, some of which are edible. However, this specimen belongs to the group of inedible, but is not considered poisonous.
Where and how to grow
You can meet this species on dead hardwood that grows along rivers and lakes.
The variety is widespread throughout Our Country, and the favorable time for their growth is from July to September. However, in some parts of the country with a mild climate, this specimen continues to grow continuously.
For example, in the southern region of Our Country, where frost reaches a maximum of -10 degrees in winter, mushrooms do not die. And at positive temperatures, they continue to develop and form spores. In those regions where winters are more severe, for example, in the European part, exsidia successfully winters and begins to grow immediately after the thaw.
In dry weather, the fruiting bodies dry out, turning black, turning into hard thin crusts, the viability of which is several years in herbarium conditions. However, with heavy rain, the mushrooms return to their original form.
Twins and their differences
There are several types of mushrooms that are considered twins of Exsidia compressed:
- Exidia is glandular – in shape and color resembles a compressed one. However, the glandular one has a richer black color, and small warts can be seen on the surface of the fruiting body. It is believed that this double is an edible and tasty mushroom.
- Exsidia truncated – similar in color and shape. You can distinguish a double from a real one by the presence of a lower velvety surface and small warts on its fruiting body. They are classified as inedible.
- Exsidia blooming – has a similar color and rounded flattened fruiting bodies. However, it will not be so difficult to distinguish a twin from a compressed exsidia, since most often it grows on a birch. This variety is never found on willow. It is an inedible species.
- Trembling leafy – similar in shape and color of fruiting bodies, but this species is quite rare and grows on stumps. Experts refer to inedible species and do not recommend using it for food.
Conclusion
Exsidia compressed is found in almost every forest. However, for a mushroom picker, it does not carry any value.