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Such a forest dweller, like a white dung mushroom, has a non-standard appearance, which differs significantly from typical edible species. Also, this mushroom has a unique color, which does not fit into the usual idea of the common wild mushrooms for the average person.
Description of the species
The white dung beetle is an edible mushroom, the most recognizable among lovers of quiet hunting. In addition, this type is most suitable for the collection and subsequent preparation of culinary dishes.
I would like to draw attention to the fact that white dung beetle is difficult to confuse with other, similar fungi, which is explained by its unusual shape. The cap of young specimens of oblong, egg-shaped form. With the growth of the fungus, it takes the form of a bell due to the fact that its lower edges open, separating from the leg.Very old representatives of the species are distinguished by a cap of a hemispherical shape, a rich dark color.
The average size of the fruit body reaches 150 mm, while the height of the cap does not exceed 100 mm. Its entire surface is covered with fibrous scales. The flesh of young mushrooms of white color, rather soft, practically does not have any flavor or pronounced taste. In old white dung mushrooms, the flesh has a rather viscous consistency, the color is dark.
The lamellar body of the cap is rather wide, the plates themselves are long. Often located. In young specimens of pink, with maturation, darken.
Foot length reaches 350 mm with a relatively small diameter (up to 20 mm). The shape of this part of the dung beetle is a regular cylindrical shape, with a small bulge that is located closer to the base. Color white, persists throughout the life cycle of the fungus. Also on the leg there is a ring, darkening with time.
Growth and seasonality
The most widespread species in areas with a temperate climate, in fact, the name of the fungus gives a clear concept of where it occurs most often. The fungus grows in rather large groups, the fruiting season - from spring to autumn.
Similar views
The peculiarity of this type of conditionally edible mushrooms is that the dung beetle has practically no poisonous and dangerous twins for human life. However, this does not mean at all that, by harvesting these mushrooms, one can lower our vigilance. Some beginners who are quietly hunted and gathered in the forest to collect the mushroom crop should take into account certain rules and recommendations.
The most important condition is that, when collecting mushrooms, white dung beetles, in no case should they be put in the same basket with other species.
Although many bypass this mushroom side, considering it inedible, nevertheless, if you have never collected it and used it for culinary purposes, you should definitely try it. The pulp of the fruit body is distinguished by its softness and tenderness, and the taste is unusual.
Nutritional characteristics
As mentioned above, white dung beetle, growing on moist soil, is an edible and useful for humans mushrooms with sufficient nutritional value. For consumption, an exclusively young fruit body is used, with the hat of the last characteristic white color, egg-shaped. It is not necessary to collect old specimens of dung beetle to collect the mushroom crop, which can be distinguished by a change in its basic color (the color becomes darker).
We draw attention to the fact that the harvest of young mushrooms retains its appearance and quality for only a few days, after which the mushrooms begin to darken and are no longer suitable for food.
Important! Unprocessed mushrooms become useless even in frozen form (phase of decay and subsequent darkening).
Some sources indicate that dung must be boiled for 20-30 minutes before cooking. However, as the experience of many mushroom pickers shows, there will be enough roasting for cooking the fruit body, as is done with ordinary champignons.
In addition to the old darkened mushrooms, you also should not collect dung beetles,growing in landfills, along the carriageway, near various industrial enterprises, as well as other sources of environmental pollution. This is due to the fact that most of the fungi are, in fact, natural filter sponges that accumulate various harmful substances.
Also, many sources indicate that cooked white dung beetle is in no case recommended to drink with alcohol, which is explained by the incompatibility of the substances contained in them. To date, it has already been proven that this information is relevant only for such species of fungi belonging to the dung family, such as the flickering and gray dung beetle. These mushrooms really have in their composition of trace elements that prevent the absorption of alcohol, which leads to the appearance of rather unpleasant symptoms. I would like to draw attention to the fact that on the basis of the aforementioned types of mushrooms, many pharmaceutical companies manufacture preparations intended for the treatment of such illnesses as alcoholism.
White dung beetle is not only a safe and edible mushroom, but also a delicacy, which is confirmed by its popular dish - braised dung beetle in sour cream sauce.
Healing properties
In addition to its nutritional value, dung beetle is also quite popular in medicine raw materials. The composition of koprinus includes antioxidants, subsequently used to obtain biologically active drugs with antioxidant effects. For example, an extract of fungi of this species causes the self-destruction of cells that provoke such an oncological disease as throat cancer.
The main beneficial properties of this type of mushroom include:
- Rapid decrease in blood sugar levels, normalization of indicators.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Regular consumption of dung beet helps to improve digestion, stimulates appetite.
- Bactericidal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties.
- Good hemostatic.
Most often, dung beetle is used for treatment in the form of a powder composition. Processing of mushrooms to obtain medicines is carried out as soon as possible.
There are also certain contraindications to the use of mushrooms of this species. First of all, it is, of course, the use of overstocked dung beet in cooking.It is also not recommended to eat these mushrooms to people suffering from serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, patients who have diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Video: white dung beetle (Coprinus comatus)
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