Content
Alpine Hericium belongs to the Hericiev family. It is also called Hericium flagellum, alpine or alpine gericium. The fruit body is classified as an edible species.
What does an alpine hedgehog look like?
In width and height it grows within 5-30 cm. Most often, the base grows strongly, and the shape can be diverse. The color of the mushroom is pink. When it dries, it changes color to yellowish or brownish.
The fruiting body is branched and treelike
Where and how it grows
It grows only in mountainous areas, therefore it is classified as a rare species. It parasitizes on one tree species - fir. You can meet him in 15 places on the territory of the Russian Federation. The maximum number was recorded in the Irkutsk region. It is found in the Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Adygea, on the territory of the Caucasian ridge, the Crimean Peninsula and in the Amur Region. Abroad, it is also extremely rare. In all regions it is listed in the Red Book.
It grows in untouched forest, on the side of a mountain overgrown with trees, and in the foothills. Bears fruit actively.
You can meet Alpine hedgehog in July and August
Is the mushroom edible or not
The mushroom is classified as edible. It has a delicate and pleasant taste.
How to cook an alpine hedgehog
The fruiting body does not need to be pre-processed. It is consumed raw. They add to salads, prepare delicious side dishes, soups and various sauces on its basis. Dried fruits are a good seasoning.
Alpine hedgehog can be cooked together with other forest mushrooms. The result is a delicious fried mixture. They add it to all kinds of homemade baked goods:
- pies;
- pizza;
- pies;
- pasties.
The harvested crop can be stored in the refrigerator, but no more than three days. After that, the product will have hardness and bitterness. Before being placed in the refrigerator compartment, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse and fill with salted water for a quarter of an hour, then dry with a towel. Transfer to a tightly resealable bag.
You can dry the crop, but in this case the alpine hedgehog will become tough. It can be used after pre-soaking, adding to broth, gravy or soup.
In China, a medicinal broth, ointment, compress and tincture are prepared on its basis.
Adult alpine hedgehog
Doubles and their differences
The mushroom can be confused with some other species. It is very similar to the coral hedgehog, which has a darker color and cream shade. Its fruiting period is longer and lasts until early October. This species is not so picky about the choice of wood on which it lives. It grows on almost any type of deciduous tree. Refers to rare and edible.
Coral Hericium bears fruit from July to late October
Also, the fruit body is similar to the crested hedgehog, which is found in Transbaikalia, Amur and Chita regions.It has longer spines of the hymenophore, which grow up to 5 cm. It is white in color. When it dries up or gets old, it turns yellow. Treats edible. The pulp has a pronounced flavor of boiled shrimp. It lives on the trunk of a living oak tree, in its hollow and on stumps.
The fruiting body has an irregular shape and does not have a stem
Conclusion
Alpine Hericium is a rare unusual mushroom. It is famous for its high taste and does not require preliminary heat treatment.
