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Stekherinum Murashkinsky (lat. Metuloidea murashkinskyi) or Murashkinsky’s irpeks is a medium-sized mushroom with a rather unusual appearance. Its fruiting body does not have a clear shape, and the cap resembles a large oyster shell. It got its name in honor of the Soviet scientist, professor of the Siberian Agricultural Academy K. E. Murashkinsky.
Description stekherinum Murashkinsky
The hat has the shape of a semicircle, which can reach 5-7 cm in diameter. Its thickness is about 1 cm. This species is rarely found alone. Most often, you can find groups of fungi that are located close to each other like tiles.
Fresh caps of this species are leathery and elastic to the touch. As they dry, they become brittle. The surface is slightly hairy, especially in young specimens. The older the fruiting body, the smoother its cap. The color varies from whitish with an admixture of ocher to pinkish-brown shades. As it develops, the cap darkens.
The hymenophore belongs to the spiny type – it consists of many small cone-shaped spines, the length of which does not exceed 4-5 mm. The closer they are to the edge of the cap, the smaller their size. In color, they can be cream or reddish brown depending on age.
The stipe is missing as such, as it is a sessile variety. The base of the cap is slightly narrowed at the point of attachment of the fruiting body to the support.
Where and how to grow
The distribution area of Murashkinsky stekherinum is quite extensive – it grows in China, Korea, and also Europe (it is found in large quantities in Slovakia). On the territory of Our Country, this variety can most often be found in Western Siberia, the Far East and the Caucasus. Small groups of mushrooms are also found in the European part of the country.
Irpeks of various species prefer to settle on dead wood, and usually these are hardwood trees. In the south of Our Country, fruiting bodies are most often found on oak, aspen and birch. In the Northern regions, Murashkinsky’s stekherinum lives on fallen willow trunks. The probability of detecting a mushroom in moist deciduous and mixed forests, especially in places with deadwood, increases significantly.
Actively bears fruit in August and September, but it is not common. In spring, you can sometimes find overwintered and dried fruit bodies of this species.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Irpeks Murashkinsky is classified as an inedible variety. Its pulp does not contain toxic substances, however, the fruiting body is too hard. Even after heat treatment, it is unsuitable for human consumption.
Twins and their differences
Antrodiella odorous (lat. Antrodiella fragrans) is one of the few twins. It has a similar anise scent. Outwardly, the mushroom is very similar to Murashkinsky’s stekherinum. This twin is distinguished by the hymenophore, which has a porous structure, and not a spiny one.
Peak fruiting occurs at the end of August – beginning of September. Anthrodiella odorous can most often be found on dry trunks. Fruiting bodies are unsuitable for eating.
Trametes ocher (lat. Trametes ochracea) is another twin of Murashkinsky stekherinum. It is generally a little smaller, however, young mushrooms are difficult to distinguish by this parameter. The shape of the cap in these species is almost identical; trametes also grows in a group, but most often on stumps.
The color of the ocher trametes is very diverse. Fruiting bodies can be painted in delicate cream tones, as well as gray-brown shades. Sometimes there are specimens with orange hats. Such fruiting bodies can be easily distinguished from stekherinum, which is never so brightly colored.
The double is distinguished by the lower surface of the cap – it is milky white, sometimes cream. The hymenophore of the trametes is porous. Also, these two species can be distinguished by smell. Stekherinum Murashkinsky has a pronounced anise aroma, while ocher trametes smells like fresh fish.
Ocher trametes does not contain toxic substances, however, its pulp structure is quite rigid. For this reason, the variety is considered inedible.
Conclusion
Stekherinum Murashkinsky is a rather unusual-looking mushroom that resembles a large shell. It is not classified as poisonous, however, because of the hard pulp, it is still not eaten.