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Alder flake (Pholiota alnicola) or alder moth is a bright yellow or orange fungus that contains toxic substances. The agaric fungus is a member of the Strophariaceae family, is poisonous, grows on stumps or weakened deciduous trees, more often on alder.
Description of alder flake
Alder flake is a common fungus in deciduous forests. It grows in clusters, forms dense families, completely covering the area of wood. Young specimens are yellow. If the mycelium is located in a shaded place, then as the fungus grows older, the color becomes lemon, then acquires a rich orange color. In the open, the fruiting body is beige with ocher spots on the cap.
Cap Description
Alder flake is a small mushroom. The cap diameter of mature specimens does not exceed 5 cm.
Description of the alder moth hat:
- Young mushrooms have a regular rounded shape. In more mature ones, it is cylindrical. At the time of flake maturation, the cap becomes prostrate, the edges are concave with even or torn remnants of the film coating.
- The surface is unevenly colored, the central part is darker. The outer side is strewn with small, well-fixed scales, which can be distinguished only upon close examination.
- The protective film is dense, oily, slippery even at low humidity.
- The spore-bearing plates are densely arranged, they are even, with a clear border near the fruit stem. Painted yellow, then light orange with a brown tint.
- The pulp is fragile, yellow, very thin, with a sharp, sugary-sweet smell and bitter taste.
Description of the leg
The leg of the scale is short – up to 4 cm, cylindrical in shape, upright or slightly curved in the middle.
The top is thinner than the bottom. It is unevenly colored, dark brown near the mycelium, light yellow or orange from the middle, does not differ in tone from the surface of the cap. The structure is rigid, fibrous, solid. Lightly felted surface.
Alder moth edibility
Scale attracts attention with friendly growth and bright color of the fruiting body. Mushrooms are all of even size and height with clean caps. These are all the advantages of the species. The flake is distinguished by a burning-bitter taste that persists after cooking, with an unpleasant, ethereal, sweet smell, which also cannot be got rid of.
The chemical composition contains toxic compounds that can cause poisoning with severe symptoms, but the concentration of toxins for humans is not fatal.
Symptoms of poisoning, first aid
Cases of poisoning with alder flake are extremely rare, the fruiting body should not be consumed in any form. With intoxication, symptoms appear after 2 hours and gradually increase:
- mild nausea;
- then comes the headache;
- symptoms are accompanied by continuous vomiting;
- there is pain and pain in the stomach, sweating;
- complements the signs of poisoning diarrhea.
Possible increase in body temperature. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the body is threatened with dehydration and complications in the kidneys, heart or liver. At home, it is impossible to remove toxins from the body, you must contact the nearest medical facility or call an ambulance. Prior to the provision of qualified assistance, you can alleviate the symptoms:
- Make a weak solution of manganese and wash the stomach.
- Accept sorbents: white or activated carbon, “Polysorb”.
- You can not stop diarrhea if the symptom has not yet appeared, drink laxatives or wash the intestines with an enema with manganese.
- With chills, take a hot bath or wrap yourself in a blanket.
Where and how to grow
Alder flake is found in all regions, feels comfortable in a temperate and warm climate, the main condition necessary for growth is a humid environment. Refers to saprophytes, parasitizes on deciduous fallen trees, stumps or weakened trees, appears at the end of summer and grows until mid-October. Forms dense colonies, never grows alone. The main accumulation is Central Our Country and the Ural region.
Twins and their differences
There are no recognized twins for the alder flake, but outwardly it looks like a moth.
The growth season of the species coincides. External resemblance is also obvious. But the honey agaric is not saprophyte, it grows on a moss and leaf cushion. The hat is yellow or light brown, the stem is hollow without a felt coating. The main distinguishing feature from the flake is the plates of the false foam gray with a light blue or steel tint. The surface of the cap is dry without scales. The false foam has a pleasant smell and taste, the appearance is edible.
Conclusion
Alder flake is an inedible toxic fungus that can cause serious poisoning. Grows in mixed forests on deadwood trunks and stumps. Can only grow in symbiosis with trees. Forms dense colonies, has a bright attractive color. The taste is burning-bitter, the smell is sharp, unpleasant.
