Content
The most beautiful cobweb belongs to the mushrooms of the Cobweb family. It is a deadly poisonous mushroom with a slow-acting toxin. The peculiarity of its poison is that it causes irreversible changes in the excretory system of the human body, therefore, any possibility of contact with it should be avoided.
What a beautiful webcap looks like
The most beautiful webcap (another name is reddish) is a classic lamellar mushroom of the usual type. In its structure, the division into a leg and a cap is clearly visible, although the latter has a slightly non-standard shape.
The color of the mushrooms is predominantly brown. Young fruiting bodies are usually brighter and darken slightly over time. The cap of young mushrooms is often glossy. The flesh on the cut is yellowish or orange.
Prefers mixed forests, where he lives in symbiosis with spruce. Shows practically no interest in other conifers. In rare cases, mycorrhiza with oak or ash is fixed.
Description of the hat
The caps of adult fruiting bodies reach a diameter of up to 8 cm. Young mushrooms have a conical cap, somewhat reminiscent of a bell. As the mass increases, it changes shape. At first it becomes convex, and then its edges are flattened. In old forms of the fruiting body, the cap has a barely noticeable tubercle and uneven edges. There is practically no pulp in it.
A photo of a beautiful webcap hat is presented below.
The surface of the cap is usually dry and velvety to the touch. Scaly may appear closer to the edges, but this is rare. The hymenophore is firmly fixed both with the stem and with the edge of the cap. In contrast to the same fly agarics, the distance between the plates of the hymenophore is rather large (up to several mm). The color of the spore powder is rusty brown.
In young fruiting bodies, the edges of the cap can be connected to the stem with the help of thin threads resembling a cobweb - hence the name of mushrooms. This feature is typical for other members of the family.
Leg description
The leg reaches up to 12 cm in length and up to 1.5 cm in thickness. It has a cylindrical shape, which is slightly thickened at the bottom. Its surface has a fibrous structure. There are bedspread belts on the leg.
Where and how it grows
The most beautiful webcap is distributed exclusively in Europe. In Russia, he lives mainly in the central part or in the northern regions. The cobweb is not found east of the Volga.
Prefers spruce forests, where it grows everywhere, both in the thicket and on the edges. Less common in mixed forests. Areas with high humidity are preferred. It practically does not occur in open areas and dry areas. Mostly grows singly, occasionally there are groups of 5-10 pieces. Fruiting lasts from late May to mid September.
Edible spider web is a beautiful mushroom or poisonous
This mushroom is deadly poisonous and causes kidney failure. It is strictly forbidden to eat the fruit bodies of the most beautiful cobweb. No treatment can remove its toxins from the fungus.
Poisoning symptoms, first aid
The main toxic substance in its composition is orellanin. This compound affects the respiratory system, the musculoskeletal system and the kidneys. The danger of this poison lies in its delayed action. From the moment the fruiting body is eaten until the first symptoms appear, it takes from 12 to 14 days.
The symptoms of poisoning are as follows:
- intense thirst;
- abdominal pain;
- a feeling of dryness and burning in the mouth;
- vomiting.
Orellanin intoxication can last from several days to six months. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. If this is not done in time, the likelihood of death is high.
In a medical institution, various measures should be taken to remove the toxin from the body, up to artificial dialysis. But even they cannot guarantee successful treatment, since orellanins practically do not dissolve and are not excreted from the body. In some cases, death can occur even after several months of treatment.
Doubles and their differences
The most beautiful webcap is easy to confuse with other mushrooms, both belonging to a similar family, and having a completely different origin. Below are photos and descriptions of his counterparts.
Tuberous honey fungus
Most often, the spider web is confused with an edible mushroom - tuberous honeydew or amillaria. Mushrooms are very similar to each other. They have almost the same size and shape. In addition, both honey agaric and cobweb have a similar habitat and prefer spruce forests.
The differences lie, first of all, in the colors: mushrooms are lighter, they have ocher colored belts on the leg. In addition, honey mushrooms have a rather fleshy cap with a tubular hymenophore (in the most beautiful spider web, it is lamellar). Do not forget about the mucus that traditionally covers honey agaric, which the fruit bodies of the spiderweb do not possess. The gloss on their hat will not be slippery to the touch, but velvety.
Edible webcap
Another name for the mushroom is fatty. Unlike its venomous relative, it has a thick and fleshy cap. The rest of the parameters of mushrooms are approximately identical. The habitat is also the same.
The color of the fatties also differs from the most beautiful cobweb - they are lighter. In the old fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom, the cap also becomes thinner, but there is still enough pulp in it. In addition, its surface will always be watery.
Conclusion
The most beautiful webcap is a deadly poisonous mushroom that is widespread in the spruce forests of Europe. The elegant look of this mushroom often leads to the fact that inexperienced mushroom pickers can mistakenly eat it. The toxins contained in the fruit body of the most beautiful cobweb are fatal in most cases. Diagnosis of poisoning with this fungus is difficult, since symptoms appear only 12-14 days after its consumption.
