Content
Ileodiktion edible or white basketwort is a rare species of mushrooms that belongs to the Veselkovye family. The official name is Ileodictyon cibarium. It is a saprophyte, therefore it feeds on dead organic remains extracted from the soil.
Where edible ileodictions grow
This species grows in Australia and New Zealand, although cases of its appearance in Chile have been recorded. It was brought to the territory of England and Africa.
Grows directly on soil or forest floor. It does not have a clearly pronounced period of active growth, since in the presence of favorable conditions it can appear at any time of the year in the tropics and subtropics. It grows singly, but experts admit the possibility of meeting a group of mushrooms under conditions of high humidity and temperature within +25 ° C.
Favorable conditions for growth:
- increased soil moisture;
- high organic content;
- temperature not less than + 25 ° C;
- low light levels throughout the day.
What edible ileodictions look like
As it grows, ileodiction edible changes its shape. Initially, the mushroom is a light-colored egg with a thin membrane, 7 cm in diameter, which is attached to the soil by strands of mycelium. When ripe, the shell breaks and a compressed lattice sphere becomes visible under it, which subsequently gradually increases in size. Its diameter reaches from 5 to 25 cm. The number of cells of the fruiting body ranges from 10 to 30 pcs. All of them are interconnected by lumpy bridges 1-2 cm wide, without thickening at the junction points.
The upper surface of the fruiting body is white and covered with a thick gelatinous shell and a layer of peridium. On the reverse side there is an olive-brown bloom of spore-bearing mucus. When ripe, the top of the mushroom can detach from the base and move through the forest. This feature allows edible ileodiction to expand its area of distribution.
Smooth spores have the shape of an ellipse, their size is 4.5-6 x 1.5-2.5 microns.
Is it possible to eat edible ileodictions
Like other species of the Veselkovye family, edible ileodiction can be eaten only at an early stage of development, when its shape resembles an egg. In the future, you cannot use it for food, since it exudes an unpleasant smell of rot, for which it received its unspoken name - a smelly grill.
Such a specific aroma appears in specimens with matured spores on the inner shell of the fruiting body. This is a kind of bait for insects, thanks to which the spores subsequently spread over long distances.
False doubles
In appearance, edible ileodiction is very similar to the red trellis (clathrus). The main difference between the latter is the pink-red color of the fruiting body, which appears as the mushroom matures. In addition, there is a dense, scalloped fringe on each connecting bridge. This is the only species of the Veselkovye family that can be found on the territory of Russia.Due to its small number, it is listed in the Red Book, therefore, it is strictly forbidden to pluck it.
Red clathrus grows in deciduous forests, but sometimes it can be found in mixed plantings. This species is inedible, but its color and pronounced unpleasant odor will hardly make anyone want to try it.
Also, the white basketwort is similar in structure to the graceful Ileodictyon (Ileodictyon gracile). But in the latter, the lattice bars are much thinner, and the size of the cells is smaller. Therefore, their number can reach 40 pieces during the ripening period of the mushroom. This species can also be eaten at the stage of egg formation, until the characteristic unpleasant odor inherent in many species of the Veselkovye family appears.
Conclusion
Ileodiction edible is of particular interest to specialists, since its development process and the structure of the fruiting body is unique.
To preserve this species, attempts are being made to introduce it in greenhouses around the world. This makes it possible to significantly expand the geography of distribution.
