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The spotted raincoat is scientifically called Leopard Scleroderma, or Scleroderma areolatum. Belongs to the False raincoat family, or Scleroderma. The Latin name “areolatum” means “divided into areas, areas”, and “scleroderma” – “dense skin”. In the people, the genus is known as “hare potato”, “damn tobacco” and “dust”.
What do spotted raincoats look like
Puffball spotted – Gasteromycetes. The structure of its fruiting body is closed. It forms below the surface of the soil. Then it comes out for ripening, acquiring a spherical or tuberous shape. Spores are stored inside the fruiting body, in the basidium. This is the organ of sexual sporulation.
The fruiting bodies of the spotted puffballs are medium-sized, from 15 to 40 mm. They have a pronounced shape of a ball and an inverted pear. They are painted in a light yellow-brown hue, have numerous small dark brown scales, compressed by areola rollers. This makes the fruiting body look like a leopard skin. As it grows, the shell of the fungus becomes darker and rougher. When the spores ripen, the fruit cracks, an irregularly shaped hole appears in its upper part.
The fungus has no legs; only an unexpressed false leg with a branched root-like outgrowth can form.
The flesh of young specimens is fleshy, light. As it matures, it changes color to dark, purple or olive brown with white streaks. The structure becomes powdery. The pulp is sweet in taste.
Where do spotted raincoats grow
The view is very common. The growth area covers both temperate climate zones and southern belts. It can be found in Europe, Our Country, on the North American continent. Spotted puffball forms mycorrhiza with trees of various species.
Prefers moist deciduous and coniferous forests. Likes soils rich in organic matter and containing sand. It can be found in open, well-lit areas, in parks and squares, along roads and forest belts, in landfills, in humus. In most cases, it grows in groups.
The fruiting period coincides with the ripening season of the “noble” species. It falls in mid-August – late September, when the rainy season begins. In warm weather, fruiting can last until the end of October.
Is it possible to eat spotted false raincoats
The species belongs to the inedible varieties. Contains toxins. The use of mushrooms in large quantities causes poisoning. Its symptoms: severe pain in the stomach, dizziness, nausea, vomiting. In severe cases, convulsions and loss of consciousness occur. Symptoms of poisoning develop very quickly. They appear within 30-60 minutes. It is impossible to eat spotted false raincoat.
Medicinal properties
The mushroom contains calvacin. This substance has antifungal and anticancer effects. Experiments involving animals have shown that when using the pulp of the spotted puffball, the size of cancerous tumors decreases.
Another property of the species is the ability to fight skin diseases, stop bleeding, and relieve local inflammatory processes.
Conclusion
Spotted raincoat is an inedible species that causes poisoning. It is important for mushroom pickers to be able to distinguish it. False specimens grow only in groups, have a dense leathery shell and an unpleasant odor, and their flesh darkens when cut.