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Mushrooms that grow on tree bark or stumps are rarely considered edible by mushroom pickers. However, some of them have quite worthy taste qualities, and are also characterized by healing properties. On the eve of the hot mushroom season, it is worth taking a closer look at this type of tinder fungi and understanding what astringent postia is, how it looks and whether it is edible.
Where fasting astringents grow
The polypore fungus grows throughout Our Country, therefore it is found everywhere in coniferous and mixed forests. A favorite place for the growth of postia astringent are coniferous trees – spruce, pine, fir. Very often it is found on rotten remains of coniferous trees and on stumps. Rarely, but still, you can find old hats on hardwood – oak, beech. Fruiting bodies, unpretentious to growing conditions, actively grow from mid-July to the end of October – the beginning of November, that is, before the onset of cold weather.
What postia astringents look like
Postia astringent is a widespread and unpretentious tree tinder fungus of white color, with a rounded or complex body shape. It belongs to the annual tinder fungus, it is distinguished by a white, milky color that attracts the attention of mushroom pickers, a medium-sized fruiting body, which has a different shape: semicircular, triangular, shell-shaped, kidney-shaped. Individual specimens can grow to large sizes, but this is rather an exception. On average, the thickness of the caps is 3 – 5 cm, but this is directly affected by the growing conditions. Astringent fasting grows singly or in groups, where individual mushrooms grow together and acquire an irregular, sometimes very original, shape.
Mushrooms have a very fleshy, juicy flesh – unpleasant and bitter in taste. The bare surface of the postia has a delicate, soft pubescence in young individuals. Adult specimens are covered with wrinkles, tubercles, become rough to the touch. Like all tinder fungi, the hymenophore of the astringent postia is tubular, white with a somewhat yellowish tint.
Is it possible to eat fasting astringents
Postia astringents are inedible tree mushrooms, the properties of which are still poorly understood. However, because of the bitter, extremely unpleasant taste, they are not eaten. In general, tinder fungi that grow on trees are very rarely edible. As a rule, some of them can only be eaten at a young age. But postia astringent is considered a poisonous mushroom that is not suitable for food, which is not used for cooking even at a young age.
How to distinguish postia astringents
Distinctive features of astringent fasting:
- small, clear or whitish drops of liquid secrete young mushrooms;
- fruiting bodies have sharp edges of caps, only in very rare cases they are slightly blunt;
- from its closest relative, the bluish-gray postia, this variety differs in its snow-white color;
- this representative is found on coniferous wood, rarely on oak and beech.
Astringent postia is similar to tinder fungus and aurantioporus, which can be found not only on coniferous, but also on deciduous trees. These mushrooms are also poisonous, although they have a less rancid and viscous taste than postia. Their hats have a richer, light brown color.
The video will allow you to understand well the toxic, most dangerous mushrooms for humans:
Symptoms of poisoning
In case of poisoning with fasting, it is important to provide a person with qualified medical care as soon as possible. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning are very diverse, and only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis. The following signs of poisoning may appear singly or in combination:
- severe nausea, vomiting;
- pain in the abdomen, cramps;
- headache, dizziness;
- diarrhea;
- general weakness;
- constant thirst.
Often, the above symptoms are accompanied by disruption of the cardiovascular and respiratory organs. This entails:
- shortness of breath and shortness of breath;
- drop in blood pressure;
- increased heart rate or, conversely, its rare manifestation.
As a rule, in case of poisoning with fasting astringent, profuse sweat or strong salivation appears. In some cases, the poison can penetrate the central nervous system, causing its disorders and manifesting itself in a complex of characteristic symptoms:
- delusions or hallucinations;
- agitation or lethargy;
- loss of consciousness.
First aid for poisoning
Before the arrival of a qualified specialist, it is important to provide first aid to the victim. What is important to do in such a situation:
- Rinse the stomach by making the patient drink 1,5 liters of warm water in small sips. Add a little potassium permanganate to the water until a light pink hue is obtained. If there is no vomiting, then you need to call it yourself after drinking water by pressing your finger on the root of the tongue. If traces of food are observed in the vomit, then the procedure is repeated.
- Give a laxative and activated charcoal, which, due to its absorbent action, will absorb toxins.
However, if a person suffers from low blood pressure or it drops rapidly, vomiting and diarrhea can cause a loss of consciousness, which will aggravate the situation. In this case, it is better to give the victim strong tea to drink. The main conditions for first aid are hunger and rest. You can put a warm heating pad on your stomach and legs, which will prevent circulatory disorders and relieve pain. It is not recommended to self-prescribe medications and take alcohol in case of poisoning with astringent fasting.
Conclusion
Postia astringent in gastronomic and therapeutic terms is of no interest. It is a poisonous tree fungus that grows everywhere. It differs significantly from other fruiting bodies in appearance, so it is difficult to confuse fasting with them, which practically eliminates the risk of poisoning.