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Blood-red russula belongs to the genus Russula, Russula family.
The name says that it can be eaten even raw. Hence, they are safe. These mushrooms are not recommended for use in food. The blood-red variety does not contain poisonous elements, but the flesh has a bitter, unpleasant, acrid taste.
Where blood red russula grow
Inedible blood red mushrooms are often found in North America and Europe. Also, this species is common in South America, Australia. They settle in mixed pine forests. Occasionally grow in open areas. The blood-red russula prefers sandy, acidic soils. Grows in groups. As a rule, they form mycorrhiza with pine. The fruiting period is August and September.
What do blood red russula look like?
When the fungus appears, the shape of the cap is convex, eventually becoming flat. Diameter 3-10 cm. The color of the upper part of the russula is blood-red, purple-brown, wine-red. When growing in a sunny area, the color fades, becoming pale yellow.
The blood-red skin is difficult to remove. In the absence of rain, the surface is matte, in wet weather it is shiny, slightly sticky. The edges are wavy, slightly ribbed.
Under the hat are branched, frequent, narrow plates. They are intertwined, slightly descending on the leg. The hue of the plates is first white, then beige.
The leg has a cylindrical shape. In old mushrooms, it is hollow inside, it never happens to be spongy. The structure is solid and smooth. Height 3-8 cm. The color of the lower part of the blood-red russula is red or pink. More intense shade at the bottom. Legs turn yellow with age.
The pulp is dense, white or reddish. Slowly turns gray at the break. There is no smell. The spores are ovoid in shape, with a barely noticeable reticulum, warty. Their powder is light yellow.
Can you eat blood red russula
Russula blood-red is classified as an inedible variety. Mushrooms are not poisonous, but are not recommended for human consumption. The pulp of russula has a bitter taste, not only in raw, but also in boiled form. Mushrooms can cause minor gastrointestinal upset.
How to distinguish a blood-red russula
The typical form of blood-red russula is easily confused with other mushrooms that have a red cap. Diagnostic features of this type:
- lack of a pink tint on the leg;
- semi-matte, not bright hat with a slightly ribbed edge;
- slightly graying flesh;
- confinement to pine.
Doubles:
- Russula blackening – conditionally edible mushroom. The color of the surface of the upper part is off-white or brown. The shape is flattened or convex, depending on the age of the fungus. The cap often has cracks. Leg in the form of a cylinder. Fruiting occurs in summer. These twins are found in deciduous forests, spruce forests. Grow in groups.
- Another relative of the blood-red fungus is the brown russula. An edible representative of this type. The hat is matte, convex, burgundy. The pulp emits a strong aroma of herring, which alone disappears during heat treatment. They grow mostly singly.
Symptoms of poisoning and first aid
There are four groups of poisonous mushrooms. Russula, pigs, nigella belong to the last, 4th type. All of them contain milky juice. The picture of poisoning is the same.
Symptoms:
- vomiting;
- dizziness;
- diarrhea;
- thirst;
- general weakness;
- nausea;
- pain in the abdomen.
Gastrointestinal upset lasts one to two days. Then comes recovery, if appropriate measures are taken.
First aid:
- Calling an ambulance or transporting a patient to a medical facility.
- Gastric lavage. To do this, use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. You can also add a few activated charcoal tablets there. Or drink them afterwards.
- Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
- Provoking gag reflexes. Apply a solution of table salt or mustard powder.
- Taking laxatives or a cleansing enema.
- Before the arrival of an ambulance, a person with poisoning is wrapped warmly if there is a chill on his face.
- With severe dizziness, the patient is given strong tea.
In case of poisoning, do not give alcohol to the victim. This will only speed up the absorption of the poison by the body. Food products will also harm, it is better not to feed a person with anything, but only drink warm drinks or water. Painkillers, especially pills for vomiting or diarrhea, will not add any benefit. The elderly and children suffer the most from poisoning.
Conclusion
Blood red russula is a mushroom that is best avoided. This subspecies has a rather bitter pulp, even during heat treatment it does not change the taste characteristics. Meanwhile, the use can provoke a slight deviation in the work of the intestine. Normalization of the state will come after a couple of days.
