Content
Truncated hornbeam, truncated claviadelphus or truncated mace are the names of the same mushroom. He is one of the representatives of the Gomf family, and belongs to the Claviadelfus genus. Its uniqueness lies in its unusual appearance, which is fundamentally different from the general idea of the structure of mushrooms. The official name is Clavariadelphus truncatus.
Where truncated horns grow
Truncated hornbeam grows most often in groups, with a close location, individual specimens can grow together. He prefers to grow in deciduous forests, in well-lit, heated and humid areas. At the same time, it forms mycorrhiza with trees, but mainly with beech.
Ripening occurs from the end of August and continues throughout September. In the case of a warm autumn, this period can last until the beginning of October.
This species is distributed throughout the Eurasian continent, and can also be found in North America.
What truncated slingshots look like
This type is characterized by an elongated shape of the fruiting body, and its apex is flattened or widened. He does not have a pronounced head and legs, since they together represent a single whole. The top of the fruiting body reaches 0.5-3 cm in diameter, and narrows closer to the base.
The height of the mushroom varies within 5-8 cm, but sometimes specimens with a height of 12 cm are found. And the width is 3-8 cm.
At the initial stage of development, the surface is smooth, but as it matures, wrinkled grooves appear on it. The inside of the fruit body is hollow. The color of the mushroom can be dark orange or yellow-buffy. There is a slight white edge at the base.
The pulp is distinguished by a white-yellow or creamy shade, but when cut it quickly darkens and acquires a brown color.
Spores are elliptical, smooth, pale cream in color. Their size is 9-12 * 5-8 microns.
Is it possible to eat truncated slingshots
Truncated horned mushroom is not a poisonous mushroom, it is classified as edible. But due to its small number, it is not of interest to mushroom pickers. Therefore, it is better to give preference to more affordable and tasty types.
Mushroom taste
According to the available data, the flesh of the truncated slingshot has a characteristic bitterness, which negatively affects its taste. Therefore, it belongs to edible mushrooms with low taste and mass harvesting of these mushrooms is not produced.
False doubles
In terms of its appearance, this species is in many ways similar to the pistil claviadelfus. The official name is Clavariadelphus pistillaris. The difference between the latter is that the top of the fruiting body is round and resembles a club. The height of this species reaches 20-30 cm, and the width is about 5 cm. At the initial stage of development, the surface of the mushroom is lemon-colored, and as it matures, it becomes yellow-orange. When pressed on the pulp, its hue changes to reddish brown.This species is conditionally edible.
At the beginning of its growth, the truncated horn is outwardly similar to its edible counterpart - the horned horn. But this is only a distant similarity, since this species is characterized by a thin fruiting body, the height of which reaches 8-15 cm, and the width is 0.5-1 cm.Initially, its tip has an acicular sharp shape, but as the mushroom matures, it becomes clavate and rounded. The surface of the mushroom is distinguished by a yellowish-ocher tint, and at its base there is a slight edge of a grayish color. Refers to conditionally edible.
Collection rules
The truncated hornbeam belongs to a rare species, therefore in many countries it is listed in the Red Book. In this regard, it is not subject to a mass collection, as it is on the verge of extinction. Therefore, every mushroom picker should know that you should not pick this mushroom out of ordinary curiosity or just because it is edible.
Use
You can eat a truncated slingshot, but in order for the bitterness to come out, it should first be soaked in cold water for 3-4 hours. And then boil for 15-20 minutes. However, this cannot significantly improve its taste. Therefore, for a mushroom picker, this species is not of particular interest, and it is worth giving preference to the more common and tasty forest fruits.
Conclusion
Truncated horned mushroom is a unique type of mushroom that has a healing effect. Studies carried out in 2006 proved its antibacterial activity. In addition, it has also been found to have anti-cancer effects. The substances present in its composition are capable of producing, under certain conditions, an enzyme that stops the growth and development of malignant cells. These qualities are of great interest to specialists. Therefore, the conservation of this species is an important mission.
