Trutovik umbrella (Branched): description and photo

Branched tinder fungus, or umbrella griffon, is a conditionally edible representative of the Polypore family. The mushroom is unusual, bushy, common in the European part of Our Country, Siberia and the Urals. In cooking, it is used in fried, boiled and canned form.

Where does the tinder fungus grow

This representative of the mushroom kingdom is rare due to deforestation, therefore the species is listed in the Red Book. Since it is a saprotroph, it can be seen on a woody substrate, roots of deciduous trees, dead wood and stumps. Fruits from July to the end of October. To recognize the umbrella griffol, you need to view photos, videos and read the description.

An interesting specimen growing in the form of a beautiful bush

What does mushroom griffol umbrella look like

The branched tinder fungus has an unusual appearance for a fungus. Fruiting bodies in an amount of up to 200 pieces grow together, forming a beautiful branched bush. The hat is small, has a wavy surface with a shallow depression in the center. The scaly skin is colored light coffee or gray.

The pulp is dense, fleshy, with a pleasant mushroom aroma and taste. The legs, painted to match the hat, grow together, forming a strong mushroom trunk that goes into the woody substrate. Reproduction occurs by tubular, angular, whitish spores, which are located in a yellow-white spore powder.

Mushrooms grow in a woody substrate, in a well-lit place

Is it possible to eat branched grifola

The branched tinder fungus belongs to the 4th group of edibility, to the group of conditionally edible gifts of the forest. After heat treatment, it can be fried, stewed, salted and marinated, and also used to make soups, pie fillings. It is recommended to eat young specimens for food, as the old flesh is tough and bitter.

The branched tinder fungus is nutritious and low-calorie, so it is recommended to use it for people who are on a diet. But since mushroom dishes are considered heavy food, they should not be consumed 2-3 hours before bedtime. They are also prohibited for children and people with gastrointestinal diseases.

Cooking vulture umbrella

The fruiting body contains a large amount of nutrients, so when eaten, it has a beneficial effect on the body. With regular use of branched tinder, you can get rid of the following diseases:

1. The species has an antibacterial effect, improves immunity and fights latent infections.
2. Due to acids and glycosides, slags and toxins are removed from the body, the level of bad cholesterol in the blood decreases.
3. Thanks to antioxidants, mushroom decoction stops the growth of cancer cells.

Due to the sweetish taste and pleasant mushroom taste, the branched polypore is often used in cooking. Before cooking, the mushroom crop is thoroughly washed and cleaned. Then it is boiled in salted water for about 15-20 minutes and they start cooking various dishes. From it you can cook:

• roast;
• soups;
• stuffing for pies;
• conservation for the winter;
• mushroom caviar;
• sauces

Also, the harvest from the forest can be harvested for the winter. To do this, it is dried and stored in paper bags for no more than 1 year.

False twins of the tinder fungus umbrella

The vulture grifolaumbellata, like any forest dweller, has similar counterparts. But since this species does not have inedible twins, you can safely go mushroom hunting. Similar external descriptions include:

1. leafy – edible, rare representative. Grows in deciduous forests, on decaying woody substrate. Due to the decline in the population, the species is listed in the Red Book, so when a find is found, it is better to pass by and let the species breed. You can recognize it by a large bush, in which fused mushrooms with a dense leaf-shaped hat and a thin, fleshy leg are located. Yellow-whitish flesh has a sharp nutty taste and smell.
   
   

   Delicious species listed in the Red Book

   The “ram” mushroom is a delicacy of the Banderiv forests.

2. mushroom cabbage – this representative of the forest kingdom is an edible red book. It grows on dead coniferous wood, comes into fruiting from July to October. Outwardly, the forest dweller looks like a ball, formed from numerous fused curly lobed specimens of snow-white or light brown color. The pulp is dense, fleshy, painted in light coffee color. The color of the mechanical damage does not change. In cooking, mushrooms are used to prepare fried, boiled dishes, they can also be frozen or dried for the winter.
   
   

   In cooking, it is used in fried and boiled form.

Collection rules

Experienced mushroom pickers compare the collection of branched tinder fungus with cutting flowers. The found specimen is cut with a sharp knife at an acute angle, trying not to damage the blade and mycelium. Mushroom crops are placed in baskets with hats down so that they do not touch each other.

If there is no time to go for mushrooms in the forest, then you can grow a branched tinder fungus at home. There are two growing methods:

1. In a room with natural light, high humidity and temperature not higher than + 20 °C. As a nutrient substrate, corn cobs, branches, sawdust or shavings are used. The prepared nutrient medium is poured with boiling water and after cooling, the mycelium is laid, at the rate of 100 g per 35 kg. The mixture is placed in plastic bags with holes made. A month later, shoots appear. For rapid growth and development, the substrate must always be moist.
2. The branched tinder fungus can also be grown in natural conditions. In this case, the first crop will appear no earlier than 4 months after planting. A rotten stump or logs soaked for 4 days in warm water are suitable as a substrate. In the place for planting, cuts are made and the mycelium is placed. The bars are cleaned in a cool, shaded place. In favorable conditions, fruiting occurs 5 times a season.

Conclusion

The branched tinder fungus is a rare, tasty and beautiful representative of the mushroom kingdom. It grows as a bush on a woody substrate in deciduous forests. It bears fruit throughout the warm period, in cooking it is used in fried, stewed and canned form. Since the branched tinder fungus does not have false twins, it cannot be confused with inedible representatives.