Mokhovik chestnut: where it grows, what it looks like, photo

Mokhovik chestnut is a representative of the Boletov family, the genus Mokhovik. It got its name due to the fact that it grows mainly in moss. It is also called the brown or dark brown moss mushroom, as well as the Polish mushroom.

What do chestnut mushrooms look like

The chestnut flywheel has a distinctive feature – the skin does not separate from the cap

The fruiting body of this species is a pronounced stem and cap with the following characteristics:

1. At the initial stage of maturation, the cap has a hemispherical shape, with age it becomes prostrate, vague. Its diameter can reach up to 12 cm, in some cases up to 15 cm. The color is quite diverse: it varies from yellow to dark brown. The surface is smooth and dry, becoming sticky in wet weather. In young specimens, the skin is matte, while in mature specimens it is shiny.

   

2. Quite often, a white coating forms on the cap of the chestnut mushroom, which is transmitted to other mushrooms growing in the neighborhood.
3. The leg has a cylindrical shape, the height of which is from 4 to 12 cm, and the thickness is from 1 to 4 cm in diameter. In some specimens, it may be strongly curved or thickened from below or, conversely, from above. It is painted in olive or yellowish color, at the base it has a brown or pink tint. Fibrous in structure.
4. The hymenophore of this species is a tubular layer with rather large angular pores. They are white at first, turning yellowish green as they mature. When pressed, the layer begins to turn blue. Elliptical spores.
5. The flesh of the flywheel is chestnut juicy, whitish-cream or yellowish. In young specimens, it is hard and hard, with age it becomes soft, like a sponge. On the cut, the flesh initially acquires a blue tint, then soon begins to lighten.
6. Spore powder is colored olive or brown.

Where do chestnut mushrooms grow

This species is found quite often in deciduous and coniferous forests, prefers acidic soils. The best time for development is from June to November. It forms mycorrhiza with birch and spruce, less often with beech, oak, European chestnut, and pine. Quite often, the stumps and bases of trees serve as a substrate for them. They can grow as individuals, but most often in groups. They are found in the European part of Our Country, Siberia, the North Caucasus and the Far East.

Is it possible to eat chestnut mushrooms

This copy is edible. However, it has been assigned the third category of nutritional value, which means that it is inferior to mushrooms of the first and second categories in terms of taste and nutrients that make up its composition.

For drying or freezing, it is enough just to remove the garbage from each copy and cut off the darkened places. And if chestnut mushrooms are prepared for pickling, stewing or frying, then they must first be boiled in salted water for about 15 minutes.

Taste qualities of mushroom mushroom chestnut

Despite the fact that the chestnut flywheel has been assigned the third category of nutritional value, many mushroom pickers note the very pleasant taste of this product. This species has a mild taste and mushroom aroma. It is suitable for various cooking methods: pickling, salting, drying, boiling, frying and stewing.

False doubles

The chestnut flywheel is similar in certain respects to the following gifts of the forest:

1. motley moss – belongs to the category of edible mushrooms. The color of the cap varies from light to dark brown, in most cases it has a red border around the edges. A distinctive feature of the twin is a tubular layer, which changes color when pressed. Moss moss motley belongs to the fourth taste category.

   

2. Flywheel green – an edible specimen, found in the same area. It can be distinguished by the larger pores of the tubular layer. In addition, on the cut, the mushroom will acquire a yellowish color. Quite often, inexperienced mushroom pickers confuse this specimen with a pepper mushroom. Despite the fact that the double is considered conditionally edible, it has a bitter taste.

   

Collection rules

You should be aware that overripe chestnut mushrooms contain toxic substances that can cause an upset of the digestive organs and nervous system. Therefore, only young, fresh and strong specimens are suitable for food.

Use

Chestnut mushroom can be eaten salted, fried, stewed, boiled and pickled. Also, this variety is suitable for freezing and drying, which later can become an additional ingredient for soup or another dish. In addition, mushroom sauces are made from chestnut mushrooms and used as a decoration for the festive table.

Conclusion

Chestnut flywheel is an edible mushroom of the third category. This species is suitable for use as food, but the quality of all forest products must be strictly monitored. It is important to remember that poisonous and toxic substances accumulate in old specimens, which can adversely affect the human body.