Content
Thyroid dyscina is a mushroom of early fruiting. The first specimens are found in March or April, the growth of colonies continues until June. In appearance and color, the discomycete was named pink-red saucer. In biological reference books, the fungus is designated as Discina perlata.
Description of thyroid discine
The early spring marsupial species appears immediately after the snow melts, without damaging the fruiting body it suffers small frosts. Vegetation is slow, thyroid discina reaches biological maturity in 2-2.5 weeks. The mushrooms are large in size, some specimens grow up to 15 cm in diameter. At first, discina is light brown with a pink tint, then dark brown. There are black fruit bodies.
The external characteristics of the pink-red saucer are as follows:
- At the beginning of growth, the form of apothecia is cupped or barrel-shaped, rounded with edges curled inward. Then it becomes flattened in the form of a saucer, widely spread, with large radial folds. The edges are uneven, wavy, concave.
- The spore-bearing layer is located on the outer part of the fruiting body, therefore, in the process of maturation of the spores, the color of the thyroid discine changes.
- The lower surface is sterile, smooth, matte, light brown or dark beige in color with pronounced veins.
- In the central part there are obtuse ribs from the stem that reach the edge of the surface.
- The false stem is very short - up to 3 cm, ribbed, mainly located in the substrate. It is often absent or forms as a rudiment.
- The flesh is thin, very fragile, cartilaginous, but rather juicy. In young specimens, it is white with a gray tint. An adult saucer has a light brown color.
Doubles and their differences
In mycological reference books, a poisonous twin is not indicated, in discina it is not. According to morphological data, there is a similar species - venous disciotis.
An early mushroom of the conditionally edible category. Color - from dark brown to black. Grows in groups in open areas of mixed forests of a temperate climate. The twin differs from thyroid discina by the presence of small dark gray scales on the lower part of the apothecia and a pronounced smell of chlorine.
The danger is represented by an ordinary line, which outwardly resembles thyroid discina. Both species are part of the Discinovye family, the fruiting time is also the same.
At the beginning of growth, thyroid discina differs from the line by a relatively smooth fruiting body. Adult mushrooms are similar in appearance with uneven edges and a folded surface.But the line has a short, easily identifiable leg, the upper part is not extended, without borders at the edge.
Where and how it grows
Thyroid discina is a saprotrophic species; it grows in pine forests and mixed massifs, where conifers are often found. The distribution area is the entire European part of the Russian Federation, except for the northern regions, as well as the Central and Southern regions. The mycelium is located on rotting wood or in the ground. A prerequisite for the fruiting of thyroid discina is a sufficient amount of light and moist soil. It prefers to settle on disturbed soil after felling, the first to appear in places of fire, less often it is found on the sides of forest roads and the edge of ditches. It grows in groups, on damaged soil, the peak yield reaches in the third year of fruiting, it can completely cover rather large areas.
Is the mushroom edible or not
Thyroid dyscin is included in the last group in terms of nutritional value, it belongs to conditionally edible. Apothecia without taste, with a weak mushroom odor. The main advantage of the species is early fruiting. The pulp is very fragile, does not tolerate transportation well. With the wrong collection container, small crumbs can be brought home.
Fruit bodies are versatile in use, the delicate pulp, when properly handled, is suitable for drying, frying, stewing and preparing first courses. Early spring species are rarely taken for winter harvesting. If the crop is plentiful, discina can be frozen and used in late summer for pickling with other mushrooms.
How to prepare thyroid discina
Residues of litter and soil are removed from discina, washed. Then boil in salted water for 10 minutes. The broth is unsuitable for further use, it is poured out. If the processing technology is followed, the saucer turns out to be delicate and pleasant to the taste.
Components:
- 300 g of fruit bodies;
- 0.7 kg of potatoes;
- 2 pcs. eggs;
- 1 onion;
- salt, spices;
- 1.2 tbsp. flour;
- frying oil.
Cooking technology:
- After boiling, excess moisture is removed from the mushrooms; this can be done with a kitchen napkin.
- The pan with oil is heated, the onions are sautéed, the fruit bodies are added, and they are fried for no more than five minutes.
- The potatoes are peeled, boiled, allowed to cool.
- Make mashed potatoes, add 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil, flour, egg, spices.
- Stir until smooth.
- They make tortillas, put the filling, molded in the form of cutlets.
- Fry the zrazy in a hot pan for two minutes on each side.
For the dish you will need:
- 0.5 kg saucers;
- 100 g sour cream;
- 1 PC. medium sized onions;
- salt, ground black pepper;
- 1 clove of garlic;
- 1 bunch of dill;
- 2 tbsp. l. sunflower oil.
Preparation:
- Cut the onion, fry with mushrooms for seven minutes, add spices to taste.
- After five minutes, add sour cream, cover, reduce the heat, extinguish for 10 minutes.
- Before the end of cooking, ½ part of the dill is finely chopped and covered, crushed garlic is added, mixed, stewed for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the lid, add the rest of the dill on top.
The beneficial properties of thyroid discine
Early spring mushrooms differ from the late species in a sparse chemical composition. The fruit body of discina contains a substance called chitin, which prevents an increase in the level of bad cholesterol by binding fats.
Due to the concentration of chondroitin in the composition, the benefit of thyroid discina lies in the ability of the substance to retain water in the cartilage tissue. Mushrooms are used to treat articular pathologies: rheumatism, polyarthritis and osteochondrosis.
For this purpose, a tincture is prepared from raw mushrooms (200 g) and vodka (0.5 l) or alcohol. The product is placed in any dark container, except for a metal one, and kept for three weeks.
Tincture based on thyroid discina is used only externally as compresses or for rubbing.
Contraindications to use
It is not recommended to include mushrooms in the diet:
- children under six years old;
- pregnant women and during lactation;
- with pancreatitis, diseases of the digestive system;
- with pathology of the heart or blood vessels.
You can use it in small quantities, no more than twice a week.
Conclusion
Thyroid dyscina is an early spring mushroom with a low nutritional value. Included in the list of conditionally edible species. The saucer is widespread in coniferous or mixed massifs, parasitizes on woody remains of pine or grows on soil, more often damaged. Fruit bodies are used for all types of processing.