Mushroom red flywheel: photo and description

The red flywheel is a small-sized mushroom with a bright conspicuous color. Belongs to the family Boletovye, is considered one of the smallest among flywheels. Most often found next to moss, and therefore received the appropriate name. Below is detailed information about the red flywheel: main characteristics, distribution, edibility, differences from twins.

What do red flywheels look like?

This specimen is a fruiting body in the form of a hat and legs with the following characteristics:

1. At the initial stage of maturation, the cap is convex, cushion-shaped, becoming almost flat with age. The surface is velvety to the touch, cracks appear in overripe mushrooms. The cap size of the largest specimens is no more than 9 cm in diameter. At a young age, it is colored in pink or wine-red tones, and in mature it becomes dull with greenish or brown hues.
2. On the underside of the cap there is a tubular layer of golden yellow color in young forest gifts, in old ones – greenish-yellow. When pressed, it acquires a blue tint.
3. The flesh is fleshy, dense, golden yellow in color, turns blue when damaged. It has no pronounced taste and smell.
4. The leg reaches up to 10 cm in height, and the thickness is up to 1 cm in diameter. It has a cylindrical shape, sometimes curved in the middle. Its surface is slightly rough to the touch, solid, dense consistency. In the upper part it is colored yellow, below it is pink or brown with red scales.
5. Spore powder olive-brown.

Where do red flywheels grow?

The best time for fruiting is from August to September. The species under consideration prefers places with a warm climate; even with a slight cooling, it stops its development. Most often it grows in deciduous forests, in clearings and edges, on the slopes of ravines and in oak forests. In most cases, it grows one at a time. The red flywheel is a rare guest in forests, so this mushroom is usually collected along the way along with other specimens. Known in the Far East, Europe and North Africa.

Red moss fly grows among moss and short grass

Is it possible to eat red mushrooms

This species belongs to the category of edible mushrooms, like other varieties of mossiness mushrooms. However, red is assigned the fourth category of nutritional value. This product tends to deteriorate quickly, which is why it is not of particular interest among mushroom pickers.

Taste qualities of the red moss mushroom

The red flywheel does not have a pronounced taste, however, many experts note that this specimen is pleasant in texture and structure. Most of them recommend using this product as a secondary ingredient to the main dish.

False doubles

The red flywheel is similar in appearance to the conditionally edible Chestnut mushroom. It is worth noting that this variety is not poisonous, but it is not recommended to eat it because of the unpleasant bitter taste. You can distinguish a twin by the following criteria:

• the flesh of the chestnut mushroom is colored white, and remains unchanged on the cut;
• has a pale yellow spore powder;
• grows in coniferous and deciduous forests on sandy soil;
• the leg is dry, bare, does not have small scales that are characteristic of the red moss fly.

Chestnut mushroom is suitable only for drying, since in this form its bitterness disappears.

Collection rules

In the forest, attention should be paid to young specimens, since old and overripe mushrooms have no nutritional value. When the red flywheel is removed from the soil, the appearance and useful properties begin to quickly disappear, so one of the main missions of the mushroom picker is to bring the gifts of the forest to the house in its original form. Important! So that the collected mushrooms do not turn into a mushy mass, it is necessary to carry out the primary processing as soon as possible and start cooking.

Use

Mokhovik red can be used as food in fried, stewed, boiled, salted and pickled form. Also, this species is suitable for freezing and drying, but when dried, the pulp of the fruiting body changes its usual color to black. Before cooking, red mushrooms should be pre-washed, cleaned of forest debris and removed the layer of spores located under the hat. It is not necessary to soak this species in water. Due to the fact that the red flywheel is practically tasteless, it is not cooked separately, but it is excellent as an accompanying ingredient for fried potatoes, vegetables and other dishes, including mushrooms with a more pronounced taste.

If the red flywheel is assembled for drying, then you should not wash it, you can only wipe it

Conclusion

Due to its bright color, the red flywheel is beautiful and noticeable, despite its small size. So, the diameter of the cap of the smallest specimens is about 1 cm, and the largest ones – no more than 9 cm. Despite the fact that this species is edible, it is important to remember the precautions. If the mushroom picker has any doubts about a particular mushroom, then such specimens should be thrown away in order to avoid health problems.