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Stinky morel – a mushroom that can be found everywhere, has an unpleasant odor, is not suitable for human consumption, but is extremely popular with experienced mushroom pickers. This is due to the medicinal properties of the culture.
Where do stinky morels grow
The stink morel, or Mutinus Ravenel, as the fungus is officially called, loves fertile, moist soils. Therefore, it can be found not only in deciduous forests, but also in urban shrubs, abandoned gardens and where there is rotting wood. The largest harvest can be harvested immediately after a warm rain passes.
In recent years, the smelly morel, which was once a rarity, can be found in summer cottages, in well-groomed gardens under lilac bushes, in city parks. Therefore, many owners of land allotments even think about how to breed this mushroom, which at one time even breeders could not propagate.
What do stinky morels look like
The formation of the fruiting body goes through several stages:
- The mushroom at an early age looks like an ordinary egg, the surface of which is leathery, smooth, and white in color. The width of the egg is approximately 2 cm, and the height is not more than 4 cm.
- Then the body of the fungus begins to grow from the egg, while the egg “bursts” into two parts. From the crevice, a hollow leg is shown, the thickness of which does not exceed 1 cm, and its length is about 8 cm. Pinkish, it has a red-crimson likeness of a pointed cap at the end.
- When ripe, this point forms a coating of spore-bearing mucus, which has a very unpleasant appearance (smeared brown liquid with an olive tint) and a fetid odor. Having reached a height of 15 cm, the mushroom stops growing.
- When the stink morel is fully mature, it turns deep brown or gray and falls, unable to hold on to the egg.
Is it possible to eat smelly morels
The stink morel is an inedible, poisonous mushroom. It is used only for the preparation of medicines, with strict adherence to the provided recipe.
It is also worth noting that the toxic substances of this representative remain on the surfaces with which he has come into contact. Therefore, it is forbidden to collect it and edible mushrooms in one basket. In addition, after working with stinky morels, you must thoroughly wash your hands, wash things and process the equipment used.
Similar species
The stinky morel also has twins, which also exude an unpleasant specific smell and some external similarities.
- Veselka. First of all, stink morel is confused with veselka, which are outwardly different from it, but are also a source of an unpleasant odor.
- Mutinus caninus, or Mutinus caninus. Its difference lies in the color (the color of the fruiting body can be whitish or dirty orange, and the pointed top is colored orange), as well as in the color of the spore mass, which is formed during the ripening of the fungus (it is olive green and very sticky).Important! Dog mutin can grow in close proximity to the stink morel, so when harvesting it is important to pay special attention to differences in the appearance of a particular specimen.
- Stinkhorn, or Mutinus elegans. It is also called the devil’s probe, dog stink. Each of the names given by the people very accurately describes the appearance of the mushroom, noting its special smell. Smelly horn also grows on fertile lands, preferring moisture and warmth.Attention! Eating this species is strictly prohibited.
The use of morels smelly in medicine
Smelly morels have long been considered medicinal. They were used as components for the preparation of tinctures and decoctions, consumed fresh and dried. There are several areas in medicine (laboratory proven) in which the product is used. Among them are the following:
- Problems with the digestive system. Morel can be used for gastritis, ulcers and colitis. It can heal wounds in the intestines and on the walls of the stomach, cope with toxins and improve peristalsis.
- Musculoskeletal disorders. Morel treatment is used by people suffering from gout, age-related changes in the joints, arthrosis and arthritis.
- The cardiovascular system. The product is a pressure stabilizer, helps cleanse blood vessels and restore and strengthen them. It is used for hypertension and thrombosis.
- The immune system. When using stinky morel, the body is strengthened, its resistance to various viral and fungal diseases grows.
- Epidermis. This mushroom can cure almost any skin problem: dermatitis of various origins, psoriasis and trophic ulcers, fungus (including nails) and skin damage (wounds, scratches, burns). Smelly morel is able to normalize the condition of the skin, making it more elastic and healthy.
- Urogenital system. The variety has proven itself from the best side in terms of the treatment of all diseases associated with the genitourinary system. It is used to treat female bacteriosis, cystitis and prostatitis, pyelonephritis, restore erection.
- Since ancient times, stinky morel has also been used as an aphrodisiac, but there was no authentic evidence for this. Only recently, scientists were able to detect substances in its composition that are similar to male sex hormones. Therefore, today the version of the effect of the fungus on male power is a proven fact.
- Oncology. Despite the fact that there is no official confirmation that there are any substances in the stink morel that can cope with metastases, scientists do not deny the fact that this culture is able to strengthen the body, giving it the strength to fight cancer. In addition, recent studies by Siberian scientists have shown that the fungus, when it is in the initial stage of its development (egg), contains polysaccharides that produce perforin. This substance is able to recognize cancer cells and inhibit their development. At the initial stages of oncology, the use of perforin gives hope for an increase in the life expectancy of cancer patients, as well as for their complete cure.
Conclusion
The stinky morel is a useful but inedible mushroom. It can only be used for medical purposes and with extreme caution. Collecting even poisonous mushrooms is only far from roads and industrial enterprises.
