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Pigs are popular mushrooms that grow in America, Europe, and in the Russian regions. They come in several varieties, which differ in size, shape and color. Whether edible or not pig mushrooms, every mushroom picker needs to know.
Varieties of pig mushrooms
The Pig genus unites mushrooms of the Pig family. In the scientific literature, they are called Paxillus, which means "bag, small amount." The definition of a pig is due to the fact that in young specimens, the shape of the caps is similar to the pig's patch. Other names were also common among the people - saloha, pig, cowshed. In total, the genus unites 35 varieties.
The most common types of pigs:
- Thin... Previously, it was considered conditionally edible, but according to the modern classification it belongs to poisonous. Because of this circumstance, she is also called a false pig. The hat is up to 15 cm in size, fleshy, straight, with a small funnel in the center. Its edges are lowered, wavy. On the reverse side, the cap is lamellar. Its color is brown or brown. The pulp is dense, soft; as the fruit body grows, it becomes loose. The leg is low, up to 9 cm, brown or brown in color.
- Thick... A fairly rare variety that is found in the temperate zone of Europe. It has a clearly marked cap measuring 5 - 15 cm, convex, hemispherical in shape. Its central part is slightly depressed. The surface is dry, velvety to the touch, brown or ocher. The length of the leg reaches 12 cm, in the girth - 5 cm. The flesh of the mushroom is whitish, odorless. The variety is considered conditionally edible. It is eaten after heat treatment.
- Olkhovaya... A poisonous species that is found in many countries in Europe. It enters into a symbiotic relationship with alder, which is why it got its name. The cap has a weakly pronounced funnel shape. Its color is from yellow to reddish-brown. The outer surface is dry and has pronounced cracks. The pulp is dense, odorless, becomes looser as it grows. The stem is thin, up to 1.5 cm thick and no more than 5 cm long. The fruiting body tapers from top to bottom.
- Ear-shaped... The variety grows in conifers. It is collected on the territory of Kazakhstan and Russia. The cap of its representatives is rigid, up to 15 cm in size. The leg is small, in some specimens it is not clearly expressed. The hat has the shape of a fan, sometimes it looks like a shell. The edges are ragged, with numerous denticles. The velvety surface gradually becomes smoother. Its color is reddish, brown or yellowish. Inside, the fruit body is light, dense, like rubber .;Attention! Pig ear contains few toxins, but they pose a health hazard. Therefore, the variety is not used for food.
- Ammonia, or Paxillus ammoniavirescens... Poisonous dangerous species that is found in the countries of Western Europe and North Africa. It is distributed in coniferous forests, gardens, city parks. The fruit body of representatives of this variety is up to 10 cm high. Their cap is dense, fleshy, brown in color with a diameter not exceeding 12 cm. Active growth of the culture begins in autumn.
- Paxillus obscurisporus... These mushrooms grow from spring to late autumn. They prefer coniferous and deciduous forests. They have a characteristic light brown hat with a golden sheen. Its edges are raised, wavy.The size of the cap is from 5 to 14 cm. The pulp is beige and has a pleasant aroma. A gray or yellow leg tapers from the cap to the ground, its diameter is up to 8 cm.
- Filamentous, or Paxillus rubicun The variety is distinguished by the shape of the cap - funnel-shaped, up to 15 cm in size. Its surface is smooth, velvety to the touch. Coloring - brown, yellowish, gray or ocher. White pulp with brown undertone. The yellowish leg, no more than 10 cm high, has the shape of a cylinder. The plates of the fungus are numerous, yellow in color, with a reddish or brown undertone. This variety is common in European countries.
- Paxillus vernalis, or spring pig... The fungus grows in North America, next to birches or aspens. In Europe, it is found in Denmark, England, Estonia. Prefers mountainous areas. Its cap is convex, smooth or slightly rough. The color is varied, brown or yellow tones prevail. Leg up to 9 cm high in girth reaches 2 cm.
What does a pig mushroom look like?
Consistent with the photo and description, the pig mushroom looks a bit like a milk mushroom. Its leg is medium-sized, no more than 9 cm long. Its thickness is about 2 cm. The leg has a color similar to the cap.
The cap is fleshy in structure, powerful, rounded or elongated in shape. Its size is 12 - 15 cm. In the largest representatives, the cap grows up to 20 cm. In young specimens, it is convex, gradually becoming thicker and more concave. At the same time, its wavy edges are bent down.
The hat has a variety of colors: yellow, greenish, reddish, brown, gray, brown. The color changes as the fruiting body grows: from muted light shades to rich dark ones. On the reverse side, the cap is light gray, with a yellowish or brown undertone. Its surface is rough to the touch, but after long rains it becomes sticky.
Where pigs grow
Pigs are found in a temperate climatic zone. They prefer deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests. They are found in clearings and forest edges, on the outskirts of roads, ravines, swamps. Often these mushrooms enter into symbiosis with pine, alder, birch, and aspen. The species grows next to fallen and decaying trunks, singly or in large groups.
To find an edible species - a fat pig - stumps and trees are checked first. The fungus is more common near pines and stumps overgrown with moss. Fruit bodies develop when two conditions are met: high humidity and high temperature. In dry summers in the absence of precipitation, the yield of mushrooms is significantly reduced.
When pigs are harvested
Pigs have a long growth period. They appear from early June to late October. Their mass development begins towards the end of autumn. These mushrooms appear in large numbers at the end of August.
Pig-like mushrooms
The fat pig has characteristics that set it apart from other mushrooms. It is almost impossible to find poisonous species that resemble her.
In appearance, the following mushrooms are closest to the fat pig:
- Gyrodon... This edible variety consists of a cap up to 12 cm in size and a long stem. The color of the representatives is brown with a yellow or red undertone. Their pulp is dense, yellow, odorless and tasteless. They grow singly or in groups in summer or autumn.
- Polish mushroom... Belongs to the Borovik family. Its cap up to 15 cm in size is convex or flat. Its surface is brown, slightly sticky. The pulp is firm, white or yellow in color. The culture grows next to pines, spruces, chestnuts, is classified as edible. The collection period is from June to November.
- Podalder... An edible tubular mushroom. Its cap, up to 10 cm in size, is convex and sticky. Its color is buffy or grayish. The leg up to 7 cm long has the shape of a cylinder, gray or brown. The pulp is light yellow.The species is rare, mostly preferring deciduous forests where alder grows.
Is it possible to eat pig mushrooms
According to reviews, pig mushrooms that grow in many regions of Russia are eaten. This only applies to one variety - the fat pig. Before use, it is cooked over low heat. The broth must be drained, since it contains toxins. Then the resulting mass is washed with clean water.
The edible fat pig is not considered a delicacy. It is classified as a low quality mushroom. The taste and aroma of the pulp are rated as mediocre. However, this variety has beneficial properties. It contains atromentin. It is a brown pigment that is used as an antibiotic. On its basis, polyporic acid is obtained - a drug for fighting tumors.
Pig also contains telephoric acid. It is distinguished by its blue color, therefore it is actively used as a dye. Most often, the pigment is used to dye woolen thread.
Why pigs are considered poisonous
Thin poisonous pigs are the most dangerous for health. Previously, they were classified as conditionally edible. They were allowed to be used in food after heat treatment. Since 1981, they have been excluded from this list.
Officially, fat pig is not recommended for collection, processing and sale. The pulp contains an antigen, which, when ingested, accumulates in the blood. At increased concentration, an allergic reaction begins in a person. The body produces antibodies that cannot cope with the antigen.
The body's response to pigs is individual and unpredictable. Excessive use increases the risk of developing anemia and kidney failure. This carries the risk of death. For some people, eating these mushrooms is completely safe. For others, even a small amount can be irreversible.
The danger of pigs is that they accumulate harmful substances in the pulp. Therefore, it is not recommended to pick mushrooms that grow near factories, industrial zones and cities. The accumulated harmful substances are not removed from the pulp even after prolonged cooking. When eaten, they enter the human body.
When pigs are poisoned, the first symptoms appear after 30 to 40 minutes. First, there is a general malaise: vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, high sweating. Then the victim has pallor of the skin, jaundice, hemoglobin rises. In severe cases, complications are diagnosed: lesions of the pockets, circulatory and respiratory systems.
In case of poisoning, call a doctor. Then the victim is given first aid:
- give activated charcoal or other sorbent to drink;
- induce vomiting and gastric lavage;
- make sure the patient drinks more warm water.
The patient is taken to the toxicology department. To reduce the autoimmune reaction, special antihistamines are taken. The rehabilitation period takes several weeks.
Conclusion
Whether or not the pig mushrooms are edible is still controversial. When collecting representatives of this species, pay attention to the size or color of the hats. So you can reject poisonous specimens from edible ones. Before eating, fruiting bodies are subjected to heat treatment to remove toxins. In case of poisoning, consult a doctor immediately.
