Contents
Mokruha felt – a variety of agaric, which belongs to the genus Chroogomphus. The fruit body is edible, after heat treatment it does not pose a health hazard. Grows in coniferous forests. It is quite rare and is protected by the state.
What do felt mokruhi look like
The hat has a convex shape. Its surface is whitish, feels like felt to the touch. The coloration is brown or ocher. Along the edges of the hat is even, consists of depressed areas. Below are the plates that descend to the leg. Their color is brown with an orange undertone.
The upper part is 2 to 10 cm in size. Often a tubercle protrudes in the middle. Along the edges are the remains of a bedspread. The surface is dry, after rains it becomes sticky. In warm weather, the hat is fibrous, felted. The color is varied: yellow, brown, pinkish. Sometimes burgundy fibers are clearly visible.
The pulp of the felt mokruha is dense, ocher, with pronounced fibers. It dries quickly and takes on a pinkish undertone. The leg is straight, swollen in the central part. The color of the fruiting body is uniform. The bedspread is fibrous, reminiscent of a cobweb.
Where do felt mokruhi grow
Felt mokruha prefers forests. It is often found in mixed and coniferous forests. The fungus forms mycosis with pine, cedar and black fir. Fruiting bodies grow singly or in large groups. Favorable conditions for the species are high humidity and warm weather.
The distribution area includes the Far East: Primorsky Krai and the Sakhalin Region. It also grows in Japan and North America. The fruiting period is in autumn. Mokruha appears from September to October.
The extinction of the species is associated with deforestation and fires. As a result, the food source of fungi, the wood of coniferous trees, is lost. Therefore, today special attention is paid to the preservation of the forest in the Far East.
Is it possible to eat felt mokruhi
Mokruha felt is a high-quality edible mushroom. It belongs to the 4th category of nutritional value. This includes varieties that can be eaten. However, the taste quality is low. The fruit body does not have a pungent taste or aroma. The pulp does not contain harmful substances that give a bitter taste or pose a health hazard.
False doubles
Mokruha felt has false twins. These are mushrooms that are similar in appearance. However, not all of them are edible; there are also less useful specimens. You can distinguish twins by their characteristic features.
Common false twins:
- Mokruha Siberian. A very close variety, distinguished by a grayish tint of the cap. Occurs very rarely. Nutritional properties have not been studied, so it is recommended to stop using it.
- Mokruha spruce. The double is distinguished by a gray-brown hat with a purple undertone. The shape is convex, gradually becomes flat. In young representatives, the hat is covered with mucus. The variety is edible, but its nutritional quality is low.
- Mokruha swiss. Outwardly, it resembles a felt variety, but does not have a whitish pubescence. The hat is convex, ocher, with smooth edges. The species is considered conditionally edible, it is eaten after heat treatment.
Collection rules
Felt mokruha is harvested in autumn, after rains. They check glades and other open areas, places near streams and reservoirs. First of all, they examine the roots of coniferous trees. Fruiting bodies are carefully cut with a knife to preserve the mycelium.
Large baskets are used to collect mushrooms. The mass is not laid too tightly so that it does not heat up. Air gaps should remain between individual specimens. After harvesting, it is recommended to process the mushrooms as soon as possible.
Use
The collected mushrooms are placed in clean water for 3-4 hours. Then dirt, leaves, needles and other debris are removed from the fruiting bodies. Then they are cut into pieces and boiled over low heat for 45 minutes. The resulting mass is fried, canned, added to soups, side dishes, baking fillings.
Conclusion
Felt mokruha is a rare mushroom included in the Red Book of Our Country. He is met next to coniferous trees. The variety has several counterparts, among which there are poisonous representatives. Fruiting bodies are eaten after pre-treatment.
