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Hypomyces lactic acid is an edible mushroom from the Hypocreinaceae family, genus Hypomyces. Refers to molds living on fruit bodies of other species. The mushrooms inhabited by these parasites are called lobsters.
What does hypomyces lactic acid look like?
At first, it is a bloom or film of bright orange or red-orange color. Then, very small fruiting bodies in the form of a bulb are formed, which are called perithecia. They can be seen through a magnifying glass. The carrier fungus colonizes gradually, and as a result it becomes completely covered with a bright reddish-orange bloom. It becomes denser and deformed, the plates on the underside of the cap are smoothed out, and its shape can become very bizarre. It is almost impossible to confuse it with any other species.
"Lobster" can reach impressive sizes
The color of the mushroom on which it parasitizes resembles boiled lobsters. Thanks to this, it got its name.
The spores of hypomyces are milky white, fusiform, warty, very small in size.
The mold parasite not only changes the color of the "host", but also significantly deforms it
Where does hypomyces milky grow
Distributed throughout North America. It is found in mixed forests in the USA, Canada, as well as in Mexico. It parasitizes on mushrooms of the russula family, which include different types of russula and milkweed. Often found on milk mushrooms.
Hypomyces lactic acid appears usually after heavy rains, does not bear fruit for long. After the parasite colonizes, the "host" stops its development, and spores cease to form.
It is found only in the wild in conjunction with other species on which it can parasitize. It is not displayed artificially. Fruiting from mid to late July to September.
It is very popular in places where it is common. In the United States, lobster mushrooms are sold dried. They can be purchased at farmers' markets and in some shops. Their price exceeds that of dried whites. They are exported to countries in Europe and Asia, especially Japan and China, where they are considered an exotic product.
Is it possible to eat hypomyces lactic acid
Hypomyces lactic acid is edible and even considered a delicacy. Sometimes there are concerns about whether he can colonize poisonous specimens. Most sources reject this, no cases of poisoning have been reported, the mushroom is consumed by a large number of North Americans.
False doubles
Hypomyces has no similar species. Sometimes chanterelles can be mistaken for lobsters.
Chanterelle resembles a "lobster" in shape, but inferior in size and brightness
Collection rules
Collect it together with the host mushroom. As a rule, they are cut with a knife or removed from the ground with twisting movements so as not to damage the mycelium. There is information that he is almost never wormy. Sometimes old mushrooms become slightly mildewed. In this case, it can be taken if the fruiting body is healthy and not damaged. Moldy areas should be cut off.
Lobster mushrooms are hard to miss even under a layer of dry leaves and needles.
They can be large and weigh from 500 g to 1 kg. It is enough to find 2-3 of these mushrooms to fry a large frying pan.
Collecting them is easy as their bright color makes them very visible even when trying to hide under fallen leaves.
Use
Lobsters can be used to make many delicious dishes. Gourmets love them for the rather delicate taste they give to the flesh of the wearer.
At first, lactic acid hypomyces has a mushroom aroma, then it becomes similar to the smell of mollusks or fish, which disappears during cooking. The taste is quite mild or slightly spicy.
It is eaten together with the specimen on which it grows. The method of processing depends on what species it parasitizes. It is often fried by adding other ingredients.
Hypomyces changes the taste of its host, neutralizes its pungency. "Lobsters" with a pungent taste, for example, lactarius, after the infestation of this parasite, lose their harshness and can be consumed without additional soaking.
They are thoroughly cleaned and washed before cooking. Often, dirt penetrates deep into all kinds of bends of the caps, such areas must be cut off.
Conclusion
Hypomyces lactic acid is an unusual edible parasite that does not occur in Russia. The exotic mold is highly prized by American and Canadian gourmets, they collect it in large quantities during the fruiting period.
