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Amanita bristly fly agaric (Amanita echinocephala) is a rare mushroom of the Amanitaceae family. On the territory of Our Country, the names of the bristly fat man and the prickly-headed fly agaric are also common.
Description of the bristle mushroom
This is a large light-colored mushroom, its distinctive feature is numerous rough growths on the cap. May be confused with other species that are both edible and poisonous. To distinguish from twins, it is important to know the description of the bristly fly agaric.
Cap Description
The hat at the initial stage of development resembles an egg. As the fruiting body grows, it opens up and becomes flat. Diameter – 12-15 cm. The pulp is dense, fleshy. On the edge of the cap, mature fat men sometimes have small teeth.
The color is white or light gray, becoming light ocher over time. It has a greenish tint. On the surface of the cap are numerous “warts” – cone-shaped growths, the same color as the fruiting body.
The hymenophore under the cap is lamellar. The plates are wide and often located, but freely. In young mushrooms, they are white, as they develop, they acquire a yellowish color.
Description of the leg
Leg is wide and strong. Expands at the base. Its height is 12-20 cm, thickness is 1-5 cm. The color is white or light gray, sometimes yellowness or ocher tones are present on the leg.
Small growths are noticeable on the surface, like on a hat, and whitish scales, but in smaller quantities. Sometimes they are missing.
Under the cap on the leg is a characteristic ring-skirt, which consists of loose fibers.
Twins and their differences
The Bristly Fat Man has several doppelgangers. Not all of them are edible, so you need to know the differences.
Amanita ovoid (lat. Amanita ovoidea), a conditionally edible mushroom. It can be fried or boiled and only then eaten.
Unlike the bristly fly agaric, it does not have rough embossed blotches on the cap.
Amanita ovoid grows in mixed forests, under beeches.
Fly agaric pearl (lat. Amanita rubescens), or blushing fly agaric, or gray-pink – a common double. Grows in both coniferous and deciduous forests. Fruiting from July to late autumn.
It differs from the bristly fly agaric in the brownish-ocher color of the cap. He has a pleasant smell, unlike the Fat Man. If you make a small cut on the hat, the white flesh turns red.
Amanita pearl is eaten after heat treatment. The mushroom is classified as edible.
Cone-shaped toadstool (lat. Amanita strobiliformis) – another double, a rare species. The difference from the bristly fat man is the color of the “warts” on the hat. They are darker – a grayish tint.
Amanita pineal in Our Country is found in the Belgorod region. Fruiting – from July to September.
Fly agaric is a cone-shaped conditionally edible mushroom, but it is not recommended for eating. The pulp of the mushroom contains hallucinogenic components, although in small quantities. In addition, it is easy to confuse it with the poisonous Bristly Fat.
Where and how does the bristly fly agaric grow
This is a rare species that grows in deciduous or mixed forests, more often in oak forests. Groups of mushrooms are found near various water bodies.
In Our Country, the bristly fat man is common in Western Siberia. Mushrooms are picked from June to September.
Edible bristly fly agaric or poisonous
Amanita bristle must not be eaten, even after heat treatment. The mushroom is classified as inedible – its fruiting body contains a large amount of toxic substances.
Symptoms of poisoning and first aid
The first signs of poisoning appear 2-5 hours after eating. These include the following symptoms:
- severe nausea;
- vomiting;
- profuse sweating and salivation;
- frequent loose stools;
- abdominal pain;
- constriction of the pupils;
- pronounced shortness of breath;
- lowering blood pressure.
With severe poisoning, which occurs after eating a large number of mushrooms, damage to the nervous system is noted. The victim feels dizzy, delirious.
If nothing is done in time, the poisoning proceeds to the next stage – convulsive contractions of the pharynx, hallucinations, severe attacks of fear, while gastric disorders soften. Sometimes there are attacks of aggression, the condition of the victim resembles alcohol intoxication.
At the first sign of poisoning, you need to call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, alleviate the symptoms of poisoning:
- Cleanse the stomach cavity by drinking 4-6 glasses of water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (the liquid should be light pink, almost transparent).
- If there is no stool, a laxative or castor oil should be given.
- It is recommended to put cleansing enemas several times.
- For severe pain, warm heating pads can be applied to the abdomen.
- With nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to drink salted water in small sips (1 tsp per 1 tbsp of water).
- In severe weakness, you should drink a cup of strong sweetened tea, black coffee or milk with honey.
- To protect the liver from toxins, it is recommended to take Milk Thistle or Silymarin extract orally.
Conclusion
Amanita bristly is a dangerous inedible mushroom that causes poisoning. Eating this species is extremely rarely fatal, but the components contained in its pulp can cause serious harm to health. Twins should also be treated with caution – they are either inedible, or conditionally edible mushrooms, or edible, but need to be cooked before eating. If a mistake was made in the preparation of dishes from these mushrooms, poisoning is possible.
In addition, about what the bristly fly agaric looks like:
