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Royal champignons are one of the varieties of the numerous Champignon family. These mushrooms are classified as Lamellar, they are humic saprotrophs. Another name for the species is two-spore champignon, royal, brown. In official sources, it is found as Agaricus bisporus.
What does royal champignon mushrooms look like?
The shape of the fruiting body in this species is classical. As you can see in the photo, the two-spore champignon has a hemispherical cap. It is slightly depressed, and the edges are wrapped inward. Its diameter reaches 7-15 cm, but there are also specimens of giants - 25-30 cm. Along the edge there are remains of a bedspread. The surface of the cap is finely flaked or fibrous.
The flesh of royal champignons is dense, fleshy, with a pleasant mushroom smell. Its shade is whitish, but a slight pinkish tint appears when cut.
In young specimens, the hymenophore is covered by a dense light film. As the mushroom matures, it breaks and forms a ring on the stem. Frequent free plates are located on the back of the cap. Initially, they have a gray-pink color, and then acquire a dark brown tint with a purple tint.
The leg of this species is thick, fleshy. Its length ranges from 3 to 8 cm, and its cross-sectional diameter is 1-3 cm. The lower part is cylindrical, in some specimens it is narrowed at the base. The surface is smooth, and its shade is identical to the hat. In this case, the presence of brownish spots is allowed. There is a light wide ring at the top of the leg.
How brown champignons differ from white
There are certain differences between royal mushrooms and ordinary mushrooms. This makes it impossible to confuse them.
The main features of royal champignons:
- large size of the fruiting body;
- brown cap color;
- intense mushroom smell.
In addition, the price of royal champignons is significantly higher than that of ordinary mushrooms with a white cap.
Where do brown mushrooms grow?
This species prefers to grow in open clearings directly on the soil. It can be found in the garden, vegetable garden, parkland, ditches, greenhouses and on the roadside. In areas where there is little grass, this variety practically does not grow. It is also rarely found in the forest.
The representative is distributed in many countries of the world and is cultivated artificially on an industrial scale.If desired, royal mushrooms can be grown independently, creating favorable conditions for their growth.
Is it possible to eat champignons with a brown hat
Two-spore champignon is classified as an edible species. Its taste is much higher than that of other relatives of this family. Therefore, it belongs to the second category.
The positive properties of the mushroom:
- improves the functioning of the digestive system;
- favorably affects the activity of the brain;
- reduces the likelihood of blood clots;
- slows down the aging process;
- removes toxins from the body.
Royal mushrooms are characterized by a high content of chitin in the pulp, which makes it difficult to digest the product. Therefore, it is not recommended to give royal champignons to children under 12 years old, and it is also not worth using them for people suffering from chronic diseases of the digestive system.
False doubles of brown royal mushrooms
In terms of its appearance, this species is similar to the yellow-skinned champignon (Agaricus xanthodermus). Therefore, you need to learn to distinguish it from a poisonous relative so as not to harm your health.
A characteristic feature of the double is a dark circle in the center of the cap, which clearly stands out against the background of the main tone. In addition, when pressed, the pulp turns yellow, and then turns orange and only later turns brown.
When broken, the flesh of the false champignon emits a pungent smell of disinfectant. And also in the process of cooking, the liquid turns yellow.
The fruiting period of yellow-skinned mushrooms begins in mid-July. They can be found in deciduous forests and mixed plantings, as well as in a park or garden.
Collection rules and use
Collecting mushrooms should be done with a sharp knife, cutting them off at the base. This will preserve the integrity of the mycelium. When harvesting, it is necessary to give preference to young specimens, since their pulp is softer, and the mushroom smell is richer.
Before use, royal mushrooms must be thoroughly cleaned of grass and soil. Then remove the film covering the plate and the top skin of the cap. At the end, wash the mushrooms.
Growing brown king mushrooms
Growing mushrooms with a brown hat at home is within the power of everyone. But this process is long, laborious and requires certain knowledge.
This will require:
- cool room;
- high humidity;
- high quality mycelium;
- special substrate.
To prepare nutritious soil, you need to stock up on wheat or rye compost and horse manure.
To prepare about 300 kg of substrate, you need to combine:
- 150 kg of straw;
- 150 kg of humus;
- 2 kg of urea;
- 7 kg of gypsum;
- 5 kg of chalk;
- 2 kg of superphosphate.
The straw should be soaked in water for 24 hours before laying. After that, lay it in layers, alternating with manure, and alternately add other components.
The mycelium should be spread out in handfuls to a depth of 5-7 cm in a checkerboard pattern. The distance between the holes should be within 25 cm. Cover the top with a layer of substrate 5 cm thick. The first crop can be harvested in four months.
Conclusion
Royal mushrooms stand out significantly from other edible relatives in taste and aroma. They are also used for medicinal purposes, to improve memory and mental abilities. But you need to use mushrooms in moderation, since any excesses lead to disruption of the work of internal organs.
