Flakes

Characteristics of the scaly fungus

Royal mushrooms (golden scales) justify their name, which is very common among the people, completely. The caps of these mushrooms can reach 20 centimeters in diameter, and they sometimes reach a height of 15-20 centimeters (see photo). These giant mushrooms in the scientific literature are called golden flakes.

These mushrooms grow mainly one at a time, which differs from ordinary honey agarics, Japanese nameko mushrooms and other scales, which prefer to grow in numerous colonies.

Small groups of royal honey mushrooms are quite rare, but mushroom pickers do not always collect them, although in taste they do not differ at all from such usual and beloved by many ordinary mushrooms.

Golden mushrooms, with caps covered with brown scales, grow on living trees, stumps and deadwood in deciduous forests, most of them appear in the fall, before a cold snap.

Beneficial features

Due to the variety of trace elements and amino acids, and with a low calorie content, mushrooms are especially useful for vegetarians, everyone who follows a low-calorie diet, and believers who observe many days of church fasts.

There is so much phosphorus and calcium in royal mushrooms that they can compete even with fish.

In terms of nutritional value, royal mushrooms belong to 4 categories, and that is why in many European countries they are considered inedible, therefore they are rarely eaten. In Russia, along with ordinary honey mushrooms, golden flakes, rich in vitamins and at the same time very tasty, are used in the preparation of many dishes, the recipes of which have been known for a long time.

In order for the mushrooms not to cause digestive problems and indigestion, they must first be boiled.

After that, you can cook delicious soups from them, fry, prepare filling for pies and vegetarian pizzas, add to various vegetable stews and stew.

For these dishes, it is recommended to take only caps, but mushroom legs are also marinated perfectly. Royal mushrooms are great for salting and add a spicy taste to various salads.

In addition, the use of golden flakes helps prevent the onset and growth of tumors.

The harm of royal mushrooms (golden scales), like any mushrooms, is that it is undesirable to eat royal mushrooms for people with a sick stomach and those who have food allergies to mushrooms.

Pulp

The pulp is fleshy, compact or thin, with a bitter taste.

The stem is cylindrical in shape, the surface is dry or slimy, scaly or smooth.

Types of scaly fungus

In total, more than 140 species are known, while only 30 are found in Russia. The most common of them are described below.

In color - different shades: from orange to red and brown. It is not very large in size: the diameter of the cap is within 10 cm, the height of the leg is up to 12 cm. It has no special smell.

NOTE

The scales that run along the outside of the cap have red tints, so from a distance it may seem as if the mushroom has characteristic holes. Most often they settle on deciduous trees - along with willows on alder, less often - on birch and conifers. Mushrooms are edible, but they need preliminary processing (for more details, see the corresponding section).

In Japanese, this variety is called "nameko", which literally translates as "slippery mushrooms." They are very reminiscent of honey agarics - they grow in large nests, have a similar orange-brown color and are even quite similar in shape.

The recipe is simple, but the taste of the soup turns out to be very rich - the combination of delicate cheese and pronounced mushroom aroma gives a very good combination:

1. The potatoes are cut into small cubes, and the carrots are grated on a coarse grater. Chop the onion finely enough.
2. The potatoes are sent to a saucepan and cooked over medium heat.Finely chopped mushrooms are immediately placed there.
3. Carrots and onions are fried until cooked.
4. When the potatoes are fully cooked, add onions and carrots to them, being careful not to pour out excess oil. At the same stage, salt is added to taste.
5. Now you need to bring everything to a boil again and drain all the contents through a sieve, rubbing all large fragments in mashed potatoes.
6. Finely grated processed cheese is added to the finished soup.
7. Finely chopped greens are added. It would be appropriate to put croutons, which are better made from a dried baguette (you can fry with garlic) - then the dish will turn out in the best French traditions.

We offer you to familiarize yourself with Mushroom places of the Leningrad region 2020

Thus, experienced and novice mushroom pickers should include flakes in their menu. These are not only tasty, but also healthy mushrooms that will come to the summer and winter tables. Bon Appetit!

What do the false ones look like?

The color of the inedible moth is much brighter than that of its edible "relative"; nature has made sure that the fruit attracts attention with its appearance. As for the aroma that the false mushroom exudes, it can hardly be called mushroom or pleasant.

To all this, the surface of the cap of a dangerous plant is covered not only with scales, but also with a thin layer of mucus, if dampness prevails on the street.

As for the aroma that the false mushroom exudes, it can hardly be called mushroom or pleasant. To all this, the surface of the cap of a dangerous plant is covered not only with scales, but also with a thin layer of mucus, if dampness prevails on the street.

A few more doubles of the royal delicacy are cinder and slimy flakes.

The first is distinguished by a too bright, orange cap, the absence of a ring around the leg and the presence of scraps of skin along the edges of the cap. The second is a bell-shaped, slightly concave head shape and sticky flesh.

Well, another dubious representative of the flake family - the "ordinary" species

You can eat it, but only if you follow certain rules, with extreme caution

The filling for baking can be supplemented with boiled potatoes or rice.

Ingredients:

• flake - 700 g;
• flour - 1000 g;
• milk - 500 g;
• butter - 100 g;
• onions - 2 pcs.;
• chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
• sugar - 50 g;
• vegetable oil - 50 ml;
• fresh yeast - 30 g;
• salt to taste.

1. Dissolve yeast in warm milk, sift 500 g flour. Mix the food, cover the dough with a towel and heat it for 30 minutes.
2. Add eggs, melted butter, salt and sugar. Add the remaining flour.
3. Knead the dough and let it stand warm for 2.5-3 hours.
4. Boil the mushrooms, drain the broth. Cut the onion into half rings. Fry the prepared foods in vegetable oil, salt the filling to taste.
5. Mince the mushrooms and onions.
6. Divide the dough that comes up into lumps with a diameter of 5 cm, roll them out with a rolling pin to a thickness of 1 cm.
7. Place 1 tbsp on the flatbread. l. fillings, blind pies.
8. Place the pieces on a baking sheet and brush with a beaten egg.
9. Bake the treat for 30 minutes at a temperature of 200 ° C.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with How to prepare pickle for cucumbers

Serve baked goods with tea or milk.

Boiled mushrooms can be used to decorate festive salads and snacks.

Beneficial features

Royal mushroom pulp good for health, because with its low calorie content, it contains the entire spectrum of essential amino acids, and in terms of the amount of phosphorus and calcium, it is comparable even to fish fillets.

Due to the presence of iron and magnesium in the pulp, these mushrooms are involved in the processes of hematopoiesis, normalize the conduction of impulses along nerve fibers, affect the synthesis of proteins in the human body and are catalysts for various chemical reactions.

In golden, gummy and edible foliots, substances were found that exhibit bactericidal and antifungal effects. The mucus covering the surface of the fruit bodies of golden and edible scales has the following properties:

• stimulate cerebral circulation;
• improve immunity;
• relieve fatigue;
• restore vitality.

The flakes contain squarrozidine, a unique compound that inhibits the xanthine oxidase enzyme. The enzyme xanthine oxidase promotes the crystallization of uric acid in joints, kidneys and body tissues. By inhibiting this enzyme, squarrozidine prevents the loss of urate salts and thus prevents pain attacks in people with gout. In clinical practice, drugs containing a xanthine oxidase inhibitor as an active ingredient are used to treat gout.

There is evidence that drugs made on the basis of these mushrooms are capable of exhibiting anti-cancer properties.

Where do autumn royal mushrooms grow?

It is worth noting that edible species of royal honey agaric grow on damaged tree trunks, old, long-felled stumps. They can also be found on the ground next to the roots of dead deciduous and coniferous species. Fruiting of golden scales or royal honey agarics begins in August and continues until the end of September. Residents of the Primorsky Territory can pick these amazing mushrooms from mid-May to mid-September.

Where else do royal mushrooms grow, and which trees are preferred most? Usually this species of honey agaric settles on the trunks of deciduous trees, especially on alder or willow, sometimes it chooses birch and birch stumps, less often - coniferous trees in swampy areas. Take a look at the photos below showing what the royal mushrooms look like on the trees in the forest:

Sometimes even experienced mushroom pickers, due to the rare appearance of golden scales, confuse them with false mushrooms that grow in the same territories. Therefore, we suggest that you carefully read the photos of edible and false royal mushrooms:

As already mentioned, scales or royal mushrooms are edible mushrooms. However, before using it, it must be boiled in salted water for 20-25 minutes. Since royal mushrooms have excellent taste, they are used in appetizers, salads, first and second courses. Especially great flakes are combined with fried or boiled potatoes. In addition, many housewives make preparations for the winter from these mushrooms: they pickle, salt, freeze and dry.

Sometimes honey agarics can be found in pine forests and spruce forests. What does a royal mushroom look like if you find it in a coniferous forest? Usually, flakes collected in deciduous forests are different from those growing in conifers. The first difference between honey agarics found in pine forests is the dark color of the cap and scales, and the second is the bitter taste. However, royal mushrooms contain a lot of vitamins C, PP and E. In addition, there are only 22 calories per 100 g of flake, so the calorie content of this species is very low. That is why they are useful for vegetarians and those who follow a low-calorie diet. In terms of the content of phosphorus and calcium, royal mushrooms even compete with fish.

Experts ranked royal mushrooms in the IV category of edibility. That is why in other countries they are not eaten and are not even harvested, since this category abroad refers to inedible species. However, in Russia they are prepared in the same way as ordinary autumn mushrooms. They are first boiled in salted water and only then the first courses are fried, stewed or cooked. In addition, royal autumn mushrooms are used in other culinary recipes: they prepare mushroom stew, julienne, make caviar, pates, sauces, hodgepodge and mushroom fillings for pizzas and pies.

Although golden flake is widespread on the territory of Russia and is well recognizable, it is not collected so often. Perhaps this is due to the fact that very few people are familiar with this type of mushroom. However, true connoisseurs of mushroom delicacies put it on a par with autumn mushrooms and even boletus mushrooms. We offer you to watch a video of collecting royal honey agarics in deciduous forests by lovers of "quiet hunting":

Description and classification

The most popular and widespread in the CIS countries are edible and golden types of scales. Hybrids are also distinguished:

• alder;
• ordinary;
• cinder.

Edible scales have a fruiting body, in which a small rounded cap and a low leg are distinguished. The top is orange in color, covered with a small layer of mucus. It grows both in artificially created conditions and in the wild.

The Japanese use it in their national cuisine. Scale golden has a cap 20 cm in diameter, which in young specimens differs slightly upwardly curved edges. It has a tubercle in the center. Its color can vary from yellow to brown. The top is dense in structure. The hat becomes slippery when the air humidity is high. In dry weather, it has a shiny surface and leaks.

In unripe fruits, the pulp is rather dense in structure, with a yellow tint. The leg is strong and does not exceed 15 cm in height. The common scaly belongs to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms. This is the most common and popular type. It is bred by Japanese farmers for sale.

In the wild, this species grows in temperate climates. For normal growth, he needs light. The fungus appears on the surface as soon as the snow melts. The fruiting season lasts until October. It grows in rare forests, small parks. It became widespread in Eastern and Western Europe.

Mushroom varieties:

1. Hairy scales parasitizes on woody words. It grows in small groups. Her fruiting season lasts from mid-August to November. The cap reaches 10 cm in diameter, convex in shape. Its surface is covered with protruding scales. The pulp is firm and homogeneous. This mushroom tastes like a radish. The leg reaches a height of 12 cm. The mushroom is considered to be edible, it is ranked in the 4th category. However, it is not used in cooking, as it has a bitter taste.
2. Poplar scales grow on dry trunks and stumps. The mushroom has spread in the Primorsky Territory and Siberia. It can also be found in forests in the European part of Russia. The diameter of the cap is 15 cm, it is covered with white fibers and has a brown color. The leg is long. Such a mushroom grows from early August to late September. For growth, he prefers birch, aspen, poplar. The mushroom is inedible.
3. The fiery scale has a lemon or bright yellow cap and reaches about 10 cm in diameter. Its shade is darker in the center, and large monochromatic scales are located along the edges. In young fruits, the plates are covered with a small mesh, differing in brown color. The pulp is slightly bitter, but has a pleasant aroma. This variety grows in the temperate zone of Russia. Prefers hardwood base. Can be found on mossy soil and tree stumps. This mushroom is not used in cooking because of its bitter taste.
4. Scale Alkhovaya grows in groups, adapts well to the substrate near tree trunks. Most often, she prefers birch. Fruiting begins in August and lasts until September. The hat reaches 5 cm in diameter, is small, yellow and has brown scales. The mushroom is inedible.
5. Cinder flakes have a hemispherical cap. It unfolds somewhat as it matures. The top of the fruit reaches 6 cm in diameter and is characterized by a reddish-brown color. The surface is covered with mucus and has small fibrous scales. The pulp is light yellow and firm. This mushroom has no smell or taste. The plates are adherent, frequent. The fruiting season is from May to September. It grows mainly in places where fire is made.

Useful characteristics

Scale contains a substance that is unique in its composition - squarosidin. It has a positive effect on the human body. In medicine, it is used to treat gout and diseases in which uric acid salts are deposited in the joints.

The mushroom extract is characterized by bactericidal properties, but clinical studies are lacking in order to introduce it into mass production for medical purposes.

Boiled mushroom is used in cooking. To do this, put it in a container, fill it with a small amount of water and cook over medium heat. The flakes taste good, so they can be pickled, salted and fried.

Definitioner

Basidia (Basidia)

Lat. Basidia. A specialized structure of sexual reproduction in fungi, inherent only in Basidiomycetes. Basidia are terminal (end) elements of hyphae of various shapes and sizes, on which spores develop exogenously (outside).

Basidia are diverse in structure and method of attachment to hyphae.

According to the position relative to the axis of the hypha, to which they are attached, three types of basidia are distinguished:

Apical basidia are formed from the terminal cell of the hypha and are located parallel to its axis.

Pleurobasidia are formed from lateral processes and are located perpendicular to the axis of the hypha, which continues to grow and can form new processes with basidia.

Subasidia are formed from a lateral process, turned perpendicular to the axis of the hypha, which, after the formation of one basidium, stops its growth.

Based on morphology:

Holobasidia - unicellular basidia, not divided by septa (see Fig. A, D.).

Phragmobasidia are divided by transverse or vertical septa, usually into four cells (see Fig. B, C).

By type of development:

Heterobasidia consists of two parts - hypobasidia and epibasidia developing from it, with or without partitions (see Fig. C, B) (see Fig. D).

Homobasidia is not divided into hypo- and epibasidia and in all cases is considered holobasidia (Fig. A).

Basidia is the place of karyogamy, meiosis and the formation of basidiospores. Homobasidia, as a rule, is not functionally divided, and meiosis follows karyogamy in it. However, basidia can be divided into probasidia - the site of karyogamy and metabasidia - the site of meiosis. Probasidium is often a dormant spore, for example in rust fungi. In such cases, probazidia grows with metabasidia, in which meiosis occurs and on which basidiospores are formed (see Fig. E).

See Karyogamy, Meiosis, Gifa.

Pileipellis

Lat. Pileipellis, skin - differentiated surface layer of the cap of agaricoid basidiomycetes. The structure of the skin in most cases differs from the inner flesh of the cap and may have a different structure. The structural features of pileipellis are often used as diagnostic features in descriptions of fungi species.

According to their structure, they are divided into four main types: cutis, trichoderma, hymeniderma and epithelium.

See Agaricoid fungi, Basidiomycete, Cutis, Trichoderma, Gimeniderm, Epithelium.

Trichoderma (Trichoderma)

The type of cap skin, usually consists of straight, septate elements located more or less perpendicular to the surface and laid both at the same and at different levels; the ends of the hyphae can be morphologically modified and represent dermatocystids. The surface of the cap is velvety to almost felt.

Lat. Trichoderm.

Trichoderma, in turn, is subdivided into intertwined trichoderma and irregular trichoderma.

Intertwined trichoderm (Intricate trichoderm) - trichoderm, consisting of intertwined hyphae, located not parallel to each other and forming a tomentose pubescence.

Irregular trichoderm - Trichoderma, consisting of irregularly branching hyphae.

See Dermatotsistida, Hypha, Septa.

Cutis

The type of cap skin, consists of creeping non-gelatinized hyphae located parallel to the surface. The surface of the cap looks smooth.

Lat. Cutis.

See Gifa.

Description of golden scales

The diameter of the cap of these mushrooms reaches really king size - from 5 to 20 centimeters. The shape of the cap is initially broadly bell-shaped, but with age it changes to a flat-round one. The color of the cap is rusty yellow or dirty golden.

Flaky reddish scales are scattered over the entire surface of the cap. The plates of golden scales are wide, adherent to the stem with teeth, the color of the plates is at first light straw, but as it ripens, it becomes olive brown. The flesh is whitish-yellow.

The leg is 7-10 centimeters long and 1-1.5 centimeters in diameter. The leg is dense, yellow-brown in color with rusty-brown scales. There is a fibrous ring on the leg, which disappears with age.

Places of growth and fruiting period of golden scales

These mushrooms grow in large groups. They settle on tree trunks or next to them. Golden scales bear fruit from August to September. In the Primorsky Territory, they are harvested from May to September.

Royal mushrooms settle on the trunks of deciduous trees, preferring alder, willow, less often birch stumps. And sometimes they are found in coniferous forests and swampy areas. Golden scales, like ordinary mushrooms, grow in families.

The first caps of golden scales appear in mid-July, and fruiting continues until mid-October. Due to the rare appearance of golden scales, they are confused with false agarics that grow in the same places.

The use of royal honey mushrooms in cooking

Ashy flakes are edible mushrooms. Before use, they should be pre-boiled for 20 minutes. They have excellent taste. These mushrooms are used in salads and main dishes. Scales go well with fried potatoes. In addition, they are used to make preparations for the winter.

Scales collected in coniferous forests differ from scales grown in deciduous forests, they have a bitter taste. Therefore, they are more suitable for pickling and salting. Also, these mushrooms are great for freezing and drying.

Golden scales are a source of vitamin C, E and PP. They also contain magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron and sodium. The calorie content of royal mushrooms is 22 calories per 100 grams.

But, despite the spread of golden scales and its good recognition, these mushrooms are harvested not so often. This is due to the fact that few people know these mushrooms. Only true connoisseurs and gourmets of mushroom delicacies put them on a par with autumn mushrooms.

Other mushrooms of this genus

Scaly mucosa is a conditionally edible mushroom. At a young age, the shape of the cap is bell-shaped, and as it grows, it becomes prostrate or slightly concave; in adulthood, the edges of the cap rise slightly. The color of the cap is yellowish or bright brown, the central part is usually darker. In rainy weather, the pulp becomes slimy-sticky. The diameter of the cylindrical leg is approximately 1 centimeter, and its length reaches 10 centimeters. At first, the leg is cotton-like, and over time it becomes almost hollow. There is a ring on the leg, but it quickly disappears.

Slimy scales grow on decayed wood. These mushrooms bear fruit from August to October.

Scale cinder or coal-loving has a cap from hemispherical to prostrate shape. The diameter of the cap ranges from 2 to 6 centimeters. The color is heterogeneous orange-brown. In wet weather, the cap becomes mucous. Often the edges of the cap are covered with scraps of bedspread. The lower part of the leg is covered with brown fibers, while the upper part is lighter.

The diameter of the leg is 1 centimeter and the height reaches 6 centimeters. The trace from the ring on the leg is almost invisible.

Cinder flakes begin to occur in May and bear fruit until October with variable frequency. These mushrooms settle on burnt wood and old fireplaces. Scaly scales are considered inedible.

SCALE OR PHOLIOTA SQUARROSA

This is one of the most common foliots in the genus, otherwise they are called dry, scaly, fleecy. They grow mainly on wood.

SCALE OR PHOLIOTA SQUARROSA

The veil, which we are accustomed to seeing on the folio of this species, is characteristic mainly of newly grown specimens, later forming a distinctive skirt on their stem and looks like a fleecy scale on the edge of the cap.

External description: sometimes mature mushrooms reach a cap diameter of 20 cm, but for the most part, the diameter of this representative is 5 - 12 cm.In mature mushrooms of a hemispherical or conical shape, the cap then becomes plano-convex or protruding (strongly convex) shape.The slimy surface has bright yellow dry scales. It tastes bitter, but edible. When broken, the pulp is whitish or yellowish in color.