Content
The reddish-yellow Hericium (Hydnum repandum) is a member of the Hericium family, the Hydnum genus. It is also known as the red-headed hedgehog. Below is information about this mushroom: a description of the appearance, habitat, distinguishing features from doubles, edibility and much more.
Description of reddish yellow hedgehog
Is a wild species
This specimen is a fruiting body with a reddish cap and a cylindrical stem. The pulp is fragile, hardens with age, especially the leg. Spore powder of cream or white tone.
Description of the hat
In dry weather, the cap of the mushroom fades and takes on a pale yellow tone.
At a young age, the head of a hedgehog is reddish-yellow convex in shape with the edges bent down, in the future it becomes almost flat with a depressed center. The surface is velvety to the touch, at the initial stage of ripening it is colored orange with a nutty or reddish tint, in mature it fades and becomes light yellow or ocher. As a rule, the cap has an uneven shape, this is especially noticeable in adult fruits. When pressed, the surface of the cap darkens. On the inner side there are thin, descending, easily breaking off small spines, the size of which reaches 8 mm. They are colored white or yellowish.
Leg description
The leg of this instance is weakly attached to the ground.
The leg of the reddish-yellow hedgehog is cylindrical, straight or slightly curved, the height of which varies from 3 to 8 cm, and the thickness is up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The structure is fibrous, dense, solid, rarely with cavities. The surface is smooth, there is a felt down at the base. Colored in light yellow shades, darkens with age.
Doubles and their differences
Many representatives of the Ezhovikov family are similar in appearance to chanterelles. However, a distinctive feature is the presence of needles, which are not characteristic of the latter species. In addition, the following species are referred to as reddish yellow hedgehog twins:
- Hericium yellow - belongs to the category of edible mushrooms. The cap is irregular, tuberous, dense, 3-12 cm in diameter. At the initial stage of development, it is slightly convex with curved edges down, then becomes flat with a sagging center. Quite often, it grows together with its relatives living in the neighborhood. The color of the cap varies from pale ocher to reddish-orange, acquiring lighter shades in dry weather. When pressed, it begins to darken.
The flesh is brittle, yellow or white, becomes bitter with age. For germination, it prefers a temperate climate; it is found in North America, Siberia and the Far East.They differ from the reddish-yellow hedgehog in larger and more massive caps and short legs. It is also worth paying attention to the structure of the hymenophore, since in the double the needles go down rather low to the leg.
- Systotrema confluent - a rare species, therefore its edibility is unknown. It is similar to the hedgehog in the reddish-yellow color of the fruit bodies, the texture of the pulp, and also in mass growth. However, a distinctive feature is that the twins are inferior in size, since the cap reaches no more than 3 cm in diameter, and the leg is up to 2 cm in height.In addition, the hymenophore is also different: in a systotrema that merges at a young age, it is an unexpressed mesh-porous relief, and over time acquires spines with jagged edges.
Where and how does the red-yellow hedgehog grow
The reddish-yellow Hericium grows mainly in mixed forests, forms mycorrhiza with coniferous and deciduous trees. In most cases, it grows in small groups, sometimes grows together in caps with its congeners. It settles on the ground, in low grass or among moss. In Russian forests, the reddish-yellow hedgehog is quite rare, the most common in the Northern Hemisphere. The best time to grow is from June to October.
Red-yellow hedgehog mushroom edible or not
Hericium reddish yellow belongs to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms. It is eaten exclusively at a young age, since overripe specimens are very bitter and taste like a rubber stopper. This type is used for frying, cooking, and is also suitable as blanks for the winter, so it can be pickled, dried and frozen.
How to cook red and yellow hedgehogs
From these gifts of the forest, you can prepare various dishes: soups, side dishes, salads, sauces. They are especially popular fried with onions and sour cream. Due to the fleshy pulp and dense structure during the heat treatment, the mushrooms almost do not decrease in size, which is undoubtedly an advantage. However, before preparing this or that dish, it is necessary to process the gifts of the forest. To do this, you should:
- To clear the collected mushrooms from forest debris. For stubborn dirt, you can use a toothbrush or small cloth.
- Remove all spines.
- Rinse under running water.
- Boil reddish-yellow hercules for at least 30 minutes, removing the froth.
Only after the above steps, the reddish-yellow hedgehog can be used in cooking.
The taste of these mushrooms has a pleasant sourness.
Useful properties of the red-haired hedgehog
Thanks to the beneficial substances that make up the red-haired hedgehog, this specimen is used in folk and traditional medicine. So, ointments based on it help to eliminate various skin diseases, and the pulp of mushrooms is excellent as a mask for moisturizing the skin. In addition, this species has the following medicinal properties:
- has a positive effect on the nervous system;
- promotes rapid blood renewal;
- has regenerating properties;
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- has an antibacterial effect;
- favorably affects the condition of nails, hair and skin;
- strengthens the immune system.
Thus, the regular use of these mushrooms has a positive effect on the condition of the whole organism.
Conclusion
Hericium reddish yellow is not the most popular mushroom, and therefore many sources attribute it to little-known.In addition, some reference books attribute this species to the category of conditionally edible mushrooms, others to edible ones. However, experts agree that this specimen does not contain toxic substances. As practice shows, reddish-yellow hedgehog can be eaten, but only after preliminary heat treatment. Also, when collecting mushrooms, it is worth remembering that only young specimens are suitable for preparing various dishes, since overripe gifts of the forest have a bitter taste.
