Contents
Zvezdovik fringed, or sitting, is a mushroom of the Zvezdovikov family. The name comes from the Latin words for earth and star. It resembles an egg or a ball with a diameter of 1 to 4 cm, which is located on the “petals”. The surface is covered with yellowish mycelium.
A young representative of the Zvezdovikov family, sitting in the needles
What does the fringed star star look like
The young fruiting body is spherical in shape. As it grows, the outer shell of the fruiting body bursts and opens in the form of flower petals. Sometimes they are straight, but most often the ends are tucked up. They can twist and deform. Petals are white at first. As it matures, it acquires a brownish color. In appearance, a mature specimen resembles a star up to 15 cm in size. The inner part is a spore-bearing bag of a round type, in a thin shell, without a leg, of a light ocher color. Inside the spore-bearing sac are spores.
The surface of the spore is warty, spherical in shape. Through the hole at the top, the spores come out. It has a hard pulp, without a pronounced mushroom smell and taste.
An adult starfish located on fallen needles
Where and how to grow
This representative is considered a cosmopolitan. It has a very wide area of distribution. Most often it can be found in coniferous forests, less often in deciduous. It practically does not grow in open places. The period of active growth is from August to the end of autumn. Little decomposable. Can be found even in winter.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Although some mushroom enthusiasts consider young specimens of this variety to be edible, there is no evidence that this is not harmful to the human body. Adult fruiting bodies are considered inedible and are not used in cooking.
Twins and their differences
Has several doppelgangers. Among them, the most common are:
- Schmiedel’s star. Quite a rare specimen. Grows on desert soil and woody debris. The fruit body is up to 8 cm, located on a platform of pointed leaves. It is considered a conditionally edible representative, fruit value is low.
- The asterisk is small. It differs in small size, up to 1,8 cm. It has 6-12 petals of a beige-gray hue. Conditionally edible instance.
Conclusion
The fringed starfish has a wide areola of distribution, outwardly resembles a star. The pulp is hard, without mushroom smell and taste. Has several doppelgangers. The young mushroom is eaten, but it has no particular nutritional value. An adult representative is considered inedible.