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The clawfoot talker, also referred to as the clubfoot, belongs to the family Hygrophoraceae, genus Ampulloclitocybe. Previously, this species was assigned to the Tricholomataceae family.
Where micefoot talkers grow
Clawfoot talker is quite common, its area of growth is extensive and includes almost all countries of the Northern Hemisphere in a temperate climatic zone.
It can be found in various forests (coniferous, mixed and deciduous). Prefers humus-rich soil. Most often found under hardwood trees. In coniferous forests, it can be found under a pine tree, and in deciduous forests, under a birch.
Grows in groups. The fruiting period begins in mid-summer (July) and ends in the second half of autumn (October). The peak is in August-September.
What do mace-footed talkers look like?
The clubfoot talker is a small lamellar mushroom. The cap of a young specimen is convex, slightly tuberous; as it grows, it changes and becomes depressed, funnel-shaped with raised edges. Its diameter can reach up to 8 cm. The surface of the cap is slippery and covered with mucus. The color is heterogeneous, gray-brown, light towards the edges, and darker towards the middle. The flesh in the cap is loose, may have a sweetish aroma, but not always.
The plates are located at a medium frequency. Strongly descending on the peduncle. In a young specimen, they have a light, almost snow-white color, with growth they become creamy. The spore powder is white; the spores themselves have the shape of a slightly asymmetric ellipse.
The leg is of an unusual shape, more swollen at the base, resembling a club. From 3 to 9 cm in height, with a thickness at the top often up to 1 cm, at the bottom - up to 3.5 cm. With age, the color of the leg changes from white to gray-brown, almost the color of the cap.
Is it possible to eat clubfoot talkers
The clubfoot talker is conditionally edible. But due to its low gastronomic qualities, it belongs to the fourth category.
Taste qualities of the govorushka micefoot mushroom
After cooking, this forest product does not have a special taste, therefore it is rarely used in cooking. When fresh, the flesh of a clawfoot talkative is bitter, but all the bitterness disappears after prolonged heat treatment. The leg is completely tasteless.
Benefits and harm to the body
Any mushroom, including the clawfoot gossip, is a valuable source of protein, as well as various trace elements such as manganese, zinc and copper. It is thanks to the presence of such useful substances that the product:
- promotes the elimination of toxins and toxins;
- does not allow the formation of cholesterol plaques;
- reduces the risk of tumors;
- has antiseptic properties.
But, despite all the benefits, the clawfoot talker is heavy food for the stomach, so it is not recommended to use it for young children and pregnant women.
False doubles
It is not difficult to distinguish the clawfoot talker from other types of mushrooms due to the unusual shape of the leg. An inexperienced mushroom picker can confuse it with a smoky talker, which is also conditionally edible, but has a gray hat. Its smell is also different, as it resembles the scent of flowers.
Another similar specimen is the soap ryadovka, which belongs to a number of conditionally edible representatives. The lamellar layer is dark, and the cap itself has a rough surface. At the break, the fruiting body turns red and emits a soapy smell.
Collection rules
If you need to collect micefoot talkers, it is best to do this from the end of August to September. They should be looked for in forests with a temperate climate. In places where there is a lot of litter, but along roads and near various industrial enterprises, collection is not recommended, since the fruit body is capable of accumulating various chemicals. They often grow in a group, which makes it easier to find them.
Use
Clavopods are eaten only after boiling for 15 minutes. In this case, all the liquid remaining during the first boiling must be drained. The subsequent preparation depends on preference. These mushrooms are considered the most delicious when fried, but they are also boiled, salted and pickled.
Conclusion
The clawfoot talker, although considered a low quality product, can easily replace other edible species, provided that the yield is poor. In other cases, they try to bypass such copies.
