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At the same time as autumn mushrooms on stumps and rotten wood, brick-red false honey mushroom begins to bear fruit, misleading mushroom pickers, especially inexperienced ones. Therefore, it is so important to know the distinctive features of this species and everything about the possibility of using it for food.
Are there mushrooms of red-brick color
Just like other mushrooms, mushrooms have many false varieties that can be both edible and poisonous. The brick-red false frond differs from the rest of the Strophariyev family in the rich color of the cap. This is a fairly common mushroom that grows at the same time as autumn mushrooms, in the same places – on stumps, fallen trees.
Photo of brick-red honey agaric in natural growing conditions:
Description of brick-red mushrooms
False foam of brick-red color belongs to the Strophariaceae family, has dense white flesh with a yellowish tint and a rather pleasant, mushroom aroma. The taste of this species is slightly bitter. Its plates are often located, adhere to the stem and are white in young individuals and gray-brown in adults, overripe specimens. Brick-red false foam grows in groups of representatives of different ages, as you can see in the photo.
Cap Description
The rounded-convex, spherical hat of red-brown color opens with age and acquires a half-spread, in some cases flat appearance. In the center is a small tubercle. A hat up to 9 cm in diameter in young individuals subsequently grows to 13-14 cm, has a more saturated color towards the center and a yellowish tint along the edges. Often the edges of the cap are covered with rusty spots. Its surface is brick red, dry and smooth.
Description of the leg
The leg of the false honey agaric is of a brick cylindrical shape, high – 6 – 13 cm, and up to 1,5 cm in diameter. At a young age, it is solid, but becomes hollow over time. At the base, it has a dark, brown-brown color, and brightens upward, it can be straight or slightly curved, expanded at the top. The ring characteristic of autumn mushrooms is absent on it, but the remains of the bedspread can form a ring-shaped pattern.
The leg and hat of the brick-red honey agaric can be seen in the photo:
A video will help you get acquainted with this type of false foam:
Where and how to grow
Brick-red false foam grows everywhere – its range extends to the central regions of Our Country, the Far East, the Urals, Siberia. It also grows in Europe and North America. Prefers mixed or deciduous forests, roots of fallen trees – birch, alder or aspen; stumps covered with moss. It rarely occurs alone, grows in large groups, even colonies. Its active growth begins in August and continues throughout autumn, until the onset of cold weather.
Edible brick red mushroom or not
Opinions about the edibility of the red-brick honey agaric remain controversial. In Our Country, in some regions it is considered inedible and even poisonous, in others it is conditionally edible. In Europe, in Germany and Italy, this mushroom is widely eaten after preliminary heat treatment – soaking and boiling. Prepared brick-red false mushrooms are pickled, salted or used for second courses.
How to cook brick-red mushrooms
In Europe and Japan, brick-red false mushrooms are bred on an industrial scale. In Our Country, they are considered conditionally edible, so the mushroom needs special treatment before cooking. Brick red mushrooms are washed well, soaked for 10 minutes and boiled for 30 minutes in salted water. The broth is drained and not used for food. After that, the mass is marinated or fried with the addition of onions.
What are useful brick mushrooms
Useful properties of brick-red mushrooms are:
- general strengthening of the body;
- increased immunity;
- normalization of metabolism;
- lowering blood pressure;
- calming effect on the nervous system;
- anti-inflammatory properties;
- removal of bad cholesterol;
- performance improvement.
Regular use of this variety is an excellent prevention of the development of malignant tumors. Collected in autumn, they have a laxative effect, and also have a beneficial effect on thyroid function. Low calorie content makes it possible to widely use brick red mushrooms during diets.
In oriental medicine, they are highly valued for the presence of components that prevent the development of sarcoma. Therefore, in the East, honey mushrooms are used to make drugs against cancer, for the treatment of stomach ulcers and liver diseases. By their properties, they are natural antibiotics and antioxidants. Brick-red representatives of the forest kingdom are also used for the manufacture of cosmetics: lotions, creams, masks that help smooth, reduce skin dryness and eliminate peeling.
Twins and their differences
The brick-red false honey agaric has many counterparts: both inedible and edible species.
Among them:
- Seroplast or poppy false foam. This edible variety grows in coniferous forests, at a young age it is characterized by a yellow-orange hat, which acquires a brick-red hue with age.
- summer honey agaric. It is distinguished by a pale gray color of the hat, which is brown in the center. The fringe on the leg is completely absent. This mushroom is edible, but has an unpleasant odor.
- Sulphur-yellow false honeycomb. It has a yellowish-brown hat with a brick-red center. It grows in deciduous and coniferous forests. It is a poisonous mushroom.
- Bordered Galerina. This poisonous species is characterized by a membranous ring on the stalk in juveniles and a edging along the edge of the cap. This species grows only in deciduous forests.
Conclusion
Brick-red false honey agaric is not as popular as autumn honey agaric, however, it has its own value not only in gastronomic, but also in healing, cosmetic terms. In order not to confuse it with other representatives of the mushroom family, you need to be careful and cautious.