Content
Fellodon felted or felted hedgehog belongs to the numerous barren mushrooms, the common feature of which is the presence of a prickly hymenophore. It is classified as a rare mushroom. Interestingly, its fruiting bodies can be used to dye wool and fabrics in various shades of brown, golden, greenish.
What does a felt hedgehog look like
Fellodons, or Phellodon tomentosus, are inhabitants of old coniferous forests. Many of them grow together, so that whole conglomerates appear, the size of which reaches 20 cm.
Description of the hat
The size of the phellodon cap varies from 2 to 6 cm, no more. In shape, it is depressed in the central part. It has a wrinkled, velvety surface with fine pubescence. Young black-haired women have rounded and even caps. Over time, they change, acquire a winding outline of the edge.
An unusual feature is the concentric color. A white or light beige ring runs along the edge of the cap. Closer to the center, there are rings of various shades of brown: with a grayish, yellow, red tone.
The pulp is yellow-brown. The dried mushroom has a specific smell that resembles fenugreek. His taste is bitter.
Leg description
The leg is solid, in the shape of a cylinder. Its length is 1-3 cm. The surface of the leg is usually smooth, sometimes slightly pubescent. The color, like that of the cap with rings, is brownish.
The bases of many mushrooms grow together with neighboring fruit bodies, they contain needles, moss, and small twigs.
Is the mushroom edible or not
Fellodon is classified as inedible. The main reason is the bitter taste. The level of toxicity has not been reliably studied. There is no exact data on whether it contains poison.
Attention! Among the hedgehogs, there are four inedible varieties: black, gritty, false, and felt.
Where and how it grows
Grows on coniferous litter and soil. Prefers mixed and coniferous forests, mainly pine, old-growth. It grows in numerous groups. Fruiting occurs in the period from July to October.
Found in Western Siberia: in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug, Surgut, Novosibirsk region.
Phellodon demonstrates a demand for soil cleanliness. It is sensitive to sulfur and nitrogen content. For this reason, it grows only in very clean areas with poor soils.
Doubles and their differences
The striped hedgehog is similar to felt phellodon. The latter has a slender fruiting body, brownish thorns and auburn flesh. Hericium striped, like felt, is inedible.
Conclusion
Fellodon felt cannot be counted among the common mushrooms. It can be recognized by the spikes and concentric patterns on the cap and stem. You cannot eat the mushroom, since there is no exact information about how poisonous the pulp can be.
