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Lamellar fungi are considered more common than spongy ones and there are several hundred different species. The scaly flake has a rather unusual cap shape and attracts mushroom pickers with its bright appearance. Unlike other representatives of this genus, it is distinguished by the absence of a clear garlic smell.
What does scaly squamous look like
The scaly scaly has a light color. The caps are covered with dense scales with darker dense scales. The flesh is quite firm and white in color. The smell is weakly expressed, the mushroom taste is practically absent. The spore powder has a brownish tint.
A feature of this species is the peculiarity of the development of the plates. They bypass the period of greenish color of the plates, becoming immediately brown. The plates are narrow and frequent, adherent and slightly decurrent. At a young age, they are often covered with a transparent white film.
Cap Description
The size of the cap of adult saprophytes varies between 3-11 cm. Its shape is either domed or widely convex. Over time, a dense tubercle forms in the center. In young scales, the cap is bent, forming a kind of dome. Its edges are cut and resemble a fringe on a fabric.
The surface of the scaly squamous is dotted with dense scales. Their color can vary from brownish to brown. The light surface in the intervals between the scales is rather sticky. Depending on the growing conditions, the mushroom may have a slightly yellowish tint.
Description of the leg
The leg of the scaly squamous can reach up to 10 cm in height with a diameter of about 1,5 cm. It has a dense dry structure and is covered with scales in the form of ring growths. The largest number of growths is closer to the lower part of the leg, while its upper part is almost smooth.
The color of the growths on the stem most often repeats the shade of the cap scales. Usually they have ocher-brown tones. However, sometimes, depending on the growing conditions, the color of such growths may have reddish and brown shades closer to the base of the fungus.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Like other representatives of its kind, the scaly is absolutely edible. Unlike its relative, the common flake, it has practically no foreign smell. The pulp is not bitter and is great for cooking.
There are several ways to prepare these saprophytes. The traditional method is frying and cooking second courses. In addition, the flake is great for pickling and salting.
Where and how to grow
Saprophyte is very common in the northern hemisphere. It can be found in Europe, Asia and some regions of North America. Most often, flake grows in groups on tree trunks. Single specimens are quite rare. Among the trees on which this saprophyte grows, there are:
- beech;
- Birch;
- aspen;
- maple;
- willow;
- Rowan;
- oak;
- alder.
In Our Country, the scaly fungus is represented in the entire middle lane, as well as in zones of temperate deciduous forests. Among the regions where it will not be possible to meet him, there are the Arctic, the northern European regions, as well as the southern regions – the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, as well as all the republics of the North Caucasus.
Twins and their differences
The appearance of the flake may suggest that it is inedible or even poisonous. It resembles many tubular mushrooms, the appearance of which is traditionally supposed to scare off inexperienced mushroom pickers. However, its dark scales are a distinctive feature that distinguishes the mushroom from many others.
The only representative of the fungal kingdom with which the scaly can be confused is the common scaly. Adult individuals are almost identical to each other. Both mushrooms are edible, with the only difference being the difference in smell and a slight bitterness in taste.
Conclusion
Scale-like scaly is widely distributed in mid-latitudes. Distinctive features of appearance do not allow to confuse it with other representatives of the mushroom kingdom. Being edible, it is actively used in cooking.
