Content
Hornbeam is a little-known mushroom belonging to the class Agaricomycetes, the Tifulaceae family, and the Macrotifula genus. Another name is Clavariadelphus fistulosus, in Latin - Clavariadelphus fistulosus.
Where the horned horns grow
It is found in deciduous and mixed forests with aspen, birch, oak, beech. It grows next to paths on the grass, on litters of branches and leaves that have fallen from trees, often on beech, rarely on the ground.
Fruiting season is autumn (September, October). Appears in groups or singles. It is quite rare.
What do the horned horns look like?
Claviadelphus fistus has an elongated thin fruiting body, hollow inside, often curved. Its surface is dull, wrinkled, pubescent at the base, covered with white hairs. At first, the shape of the fruiting body is acicular with a pointed apex. In the process of growth, the mushroom becomes club-shaped with a rounded apex. Its lower part is cylindrical, the upper part is obtuse. Gradually, it acquires a lobe-like shape. Sometimes there are specimens with a beveled fruiting body. The slingshot reaches a height of 8-10 cm, less often it grows to 15-30 cm.The width at the base is 0.3 cm, at the top - from 0.5 to 1 cm.
The color varies from yellow ocher to ocher, yellowish brown or fawn.
The pulp is firm and firm, creamy in color, exudes a spicy aroma or almost no odor.
Spores are white, spindle-shaped or elliptical. Size - 10-18 x 4-8 microns.
Is it possible to eat horned horns
The mushroom is considered conditionally edible, but it is rarely harvested. In some sources it is noted as inedible due to its rare use in food.
Mushroom taste
Clavariadelphus fistulosus belongs to the 4th category. It has low taste and low meatiness. Its pulp is tasteless, rubbery, but with a pleasant smell.
False doubles
A relative of Clavariadelphus fistulosus is the amethyst horn. Found in deciduous and mixed (coniferous-deciduous) forests. Most often it grows singly, sometimes in small scythe-shaped colonies. It doesn't look like a mushroom at all. Differs in a branched fruiting body, resembling a bush or coral, in a bright color - brown-lilac or lilac. It grows on a short stalk or can be sessile. With age, its branches wrinkle and darken. The pulp is white, when it dries it turns purple. Amethyst horned belongs to conditionally edible. Its pulp is almost tasteless, with a mild odor. The fruiting season is from late summer to mid-autumn (August to October).
Another related species of Clavariadelphus fistulosus is the reed horn. It is quite rare. It can be found in coniferous and mixed forests. It grows in small colonies on mosses, forming mycorrhiza with them. It got its name because of the shape of the fruiting body - it is lingual, often slightly flattened. The surface of the body is smooth and dry, with age it acquires a slightly wrinkled appearance. At first, the surface has a delicate creamy color, after the ripening of the spores it becomes yellowish.The pulp is whitish, dry, almost odorless. The reed horn is a conditionally edible species with low palatability. It grows from mid-summer to early autumn (July to September).
Use
Clavariadelphus fistulosus is rarely harvested for human consumption due to its low culinary value.
Before use, it is recommended to boil for 15 minutes, then drain the water.
Conclusion
Horned hornbeam is a rather rare mushroom with an original appearance, practically unknown in Russia.
