Content
The fruiting body of the fungus is not always a cap and a leg. Sometimes some specimens surprise with their uniqueness. These include a variety of ice hair, the Latin name for which is exidiopsis effusa. Also, this specimen is known as "frosty beard", "ice wool", "hairy ice" and much more. Mycologists assigned it to the Aurikulyariev family.
Where does the icy hair mushroom grow
In the warm season, this instance is unremarkable.
A frosty beard is a rather fleeting and rare phenomenon that is not located on the surface of the bark, but only on the wood. The formation of this fungus occurs exclusively between 45 and 55 degrees north latitude in cold and humid nights, when the air temperature fluctuates around 0 degrees. You can meet icy hair in deciduous forests on damp wood, it can be branches of trees of various sizes and species, dead logs, stumps, driftwood. This species is most common in the Northern Hemisphere. About 100 years ago, this specimen aroused genuine interest among scientists. Back in 1918, the German meteorologist and geophysicist Alfred Wegener revealed that there is always mushroom mycelium in the places where ice hairs are formed. After numerous studies, this theory has been confirmed.
According to scientists, the appearance of ice hair is caused by three components: a porous substrate (rotting wood), liquid water and already frozen ice. This miracle of nature begins to grow only if there is liquid inside the tree. At a certain temperature, water near the surface of the substrate freezes on contact with cold air, due to which peculiar layers are obtained where water envelops the wood, and a thin layer of ice is located above it. Gradually, all the liquid from the pores of the wood is absorbed by the ice and frozen. This process continues until the moisture in the tree runs out. And since the pores of the wood are located at a certain distance from each other, the ice is frozen in the form of fine hairs.
During the study, it was revealed that about 10 different types of fungi are located on the surface of the wood, but only spores of ice hair are present in all samples. In addition, the researchers noted that in their absence, "ice threads" do not appear.
What does a mushroom ice hair look like?
This specimen is a type of ice that forms as a thread on dead wood.
The mushroom itself is quite inconspicuous and inconspicuous, for the most part resembles mold. In the warm season, there is a risk of not noticing it, passing by. The fascinating effect is produced only by those bizarre threads that appear at high humidity and a certain temperature. As a rule, the length of one hair grows from 5 to 20 cm, and the thickness is 0.02 mm in diameter. Ice can form in "curls" or curl into "waves".The hairs are soft and brittle to the touch. By themselves, they are very fragile, but despite this, they can maintain their shape for several hours or even days.
Is it okay to eat icy hair
The shape of "hairy ice" can be very diverse.
This species does not carry any nutritional value, and therefore cannot be used for food. Most reference books classify icy hair as an inedible mushroom. The facts of the use of this type have not been registered.
Conclusion
Icy hair is a mushroom that creates rather unusual "hairstyles" on tree branches. It is this instance, as well as high humidity and a certain temperature, that creates such a masterpiece. This phenomenon is quite rare, most often it can be observed in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. The hairs retain their shape and structure, preventing the ice from melting for several hours.
