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Multicolor flake is a poorly studied mushroom from the Strophariev family, so it is better to admire it without risking your life and health. Among others of the genus, it is the most beautiful and rare.
What does multicolor flake look like?
Multicolored scales are unlikely to be confused with other mushrooms, they are very bright and unusual. It has several names, mostly foreign ones. on the territory of Russia, the species was discovered not so long ago:
- Flammula polychroa;
- Agaricus ornellus or polychrous;
- Pholiota ornella or appendiculata;
- Pholiota Gymnopilus polychrous.
The multicolor scaly belongs to the department Basidiomycota, the Strophariaceae family, and the Pholiota genus.
Nothing is known about the edibility of the species, but most related specimens are very bitter. Common flakes are eaten. Inedible specimens have unique medicinal properties, which is why they are grown on an industrial scale in China and Japan. Multicolor flake has no nutritional value.
Description of the hat
Multicolor scaly is distinguished not only by color, but also by the size of the cap, it grows up to 12 cm in diameter. In small and growing multicolored ones, it is domed, convex, with a large number of scales on the surface. The color can vary from pinkish olive to bright purple. With age, the cap becomes flatter, turns completely dark crimson, brightens only at the edges, which may remain snow-white or acquire a yellowish tint. Old mushrooms become discolored.
The skin separates well. The pulp is whitish-yellow.
In wet weather, the cap is especially sticky and slippery.
The edges of the cap are covered with a fluffy blanket that resembles an openwork braid, due to which the scales look even more interesting. The plates from the bottom of the cap are frequent and narrow, white or pink-yellow in color, adherent to the stem.
Young specimens have a visible ring under the blades, fibrous and fragile, which disappears, leaving a subtle annular zone.
Leg description
Multicolor scales can grow up to 8 cm in height, the diameter of the leg is up to 1 cm. Above the annular zone, the leg is silky, has no scales, but those that are located below are rare. Most often, the leg is white or yellowish, but it can also be blue or emerald. The shape is cylindrical, even, slightly narrowed towards the base, in adult multicolored it is empty.
Is the mushroom edible or not
There are much more inedible multicolored ones that can cause mild gastric poisoning than edible ones, however, multicolor flake has not yet been ranked by scientists as either one or the other. This means that it will be wiser to taste until the mushroom is tasted. Mushroom pickers have an old saying: "The more poisonous the mushroom, the more beautiful its hat."
Where and how it grows
The multicolored scaled lives in the mixed and deciduous forests of Canada and North America. Recently, the species began to be found in the Russian northern latitudes.Single specimens are found in the southern forests, for example, in the Krasnodar Territory.
The period of appearance is from May to November, in parks, garden plots and squares. Grows singly or in small groups on old stumps, deadwood or deciduous trees.
Doubles and their differences
The multicolored scaly does not have twins, but outwardly it looks like a blue-green stropharia.
These mushrooms, despite their unusual appearance, are conditionally edible, but eating a large number of them can lead to hallucinations. This is probably why in America stropharia is considered poisonous.
Conclusion
Multicolor scale scales are a mushroom of amazing beauty, it is impossible to pass by indifferently. Scientists have not yet made conclusions about its edibility, so it is better to refuse to collect exotic specimens.
