Content
Veinous saucer (Disciotis venosa) is a representative of the Morechkov family. The spring mushroom has other names: disciotis or venous discina. Although the nutritional value of the mushroom is low, there are amateurs who are ready to start a quiet hunt in early spring. Fruit bodies are suitable for frying, drying, and soups are made from them.
Where the veinous saucer grows
Veinous saucer is a rare mushroom that can be found in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Russians can pick these mushrooms in early spring, at the same time as morels appear. Fruiting continues from the second half of May and ends in the first decade of June.
The habitat is mixed, deciduous, coniferous forests. More found in beech and oak groves. The venous saucer prefers damp floodplains, sandy, clayey soils. Rarely grows alone, more often in small families.
It is best to look for saucers next to semi-free morels. Most often they grow very close, which when cut it seems as if they have a common mycelium. Prefers butterbur from plants. The fungus is classified as a saprotroph; it settles on the remains of dead plants in order to receive food for development.
What does a veinous saucer look like?
Discina veinous outwardly interesting mushroom. Many people, when they first see a saucer, admire the unusual shape or pass by, because they do not believe that it is a mushroom.
The fruiting body is the cap or apothecia. The average size is about 10 cm, but there are specimens that grow more than 20 cm. The hats of young saucers resemble a kidney, with the edges wrapped inward. Gradually, it becomes like a flat saucer. The surface of the cap is uneven, winding, the edges are gradually torn.
The inner part is represented by a thin spore layer. It is yellowish-white with small spots in the form of dots. Outside, the mushroom is gray-pink or brown, often purple. This surface of the saucer is covered with scales, veins resembling human veins. Hence the name.
The leg of the venous saucer is difficult to call that, it is so reduced. The length of the short, thick, wrinkled part of the fungus is from 0.2 to 1.5 cm. It is white in color, almost completely immersed in the soil.
The fruit body is represented by a fragile gray or yellowish pulp. There is no mushroom taste, but the pungent smell of bleach is felt from a distance.
The size of smooth spores is 19-25 or 12-15 microns. They have the shape of a wide ellipse, there are no fat drops.
Is it possible to eat a veinous saucer
Dysciotis venous is a conditionally edible fungus. This means that it is suitable for preparing a variety of dishes. It is categorically not recommended to use it raw, as there may be problems with the intestines.
The taste of the veined saucer is inexpressive, but amateurs still collect and cook it.But the smell of bleach is very strong. It can be easily removed by boiling. The washed saucers are placed in a container with cold water and boiled for a quarter of an hour. After that, you can fry or dry when the water is completely drained.
Similar species
Almost all mushrooms have counterparts that are somewhat similar in appearance. The venous saucer is no exception. Although, by its chlorine smell, it has no similar species, so it will not be possible to confuse it. But according to external signs, it is somewhat similar to an ordinary line or to thyroid discina.
Ordinary line
It is a toxic marsupial mushroom. It is not recommended to use it raw and unprocessed, as you can get poisoned. It's all about the toxin gyromitrin. It has a negative effect on the nervous system and liver. Nausea and vomiting are not that scary. In severe cases of poisoning, a person may fall into a coma.
Thyroid dyscina
The fruiting body of a young thyroid discina is in the form of a bowl, the edges are bent inward. In mature specimens, the cap twists into a weak spiral. The color can be different: light or black-brown on top. The lower part of the fruiting body is lighter.
Collection and consumption
Veinous saucers are rare mushrooms, and besides, not every visitor to the forest dares to put them in his basket. He has a very unattractive appearance. In Russia, disciotis is collected, and in European countries it is considered poisonous.
Vein saucers are very fragile, so they are folded neatly in one layer into a basket or cardboard box, the bottom is covered with grass. It is better not to put other mushrooms, otherwise you will get mush.
Collection rules:
- For a quiet hunt, dry weather is chosen, and you need to go to the forest early in the morning, before the sun has time to heat the fruit bodies. Mushroom pickers know that fruiting is short-term, only 2-2.5 weeks in May-June.
- For eating, take young specimens with small saucer hats. They have not yet had time to accumulate toxic substances.
- There is no need to look at the veined saucers growing along the motorway or railroad. They contain a lot of heavy metals.
Conclusion
Veinous saucer contains various vitamins, minerals, protein. After heat treatment, it can be safely eaten. Despite the benefits, the mushroom has some contraindications. Fruiting bodies are not recommended for people with gastrointestinal and kidney problems. They are strictly prohibited to women during pregnancy, lactation, as well as small children.
Mushrooms are an excellent forage crop and a catalyst for alcoholic fermentation. These features of the venous saucer are still being studied.
