Content
Veined mussel is a representative of the Morel family, living in temperate climates. Another name for the fungus is Discina veinata. It has a strong unpleasant odor and is classified as a conditionally edible species. They are eaten fried, stewed and dried. Despite the neutral taste, it has beneficial properties.
Description of the veined saucer
The fruiting body of the veined saucer consists of a kind of basket - the so-called “apothecium”, having a diameter of 3 to 21 cm, with a short and fairly thick stalk. Young specimens have a round shape with edges curved inward.
Fruiting bodies of young limpets
With age, the cap straightens, becoming like a bowl, and then can even become prostrate with torn edges. The hymenophore is located on the outer surface. At first it is smooth, later it becomes lumpy.
A characteristic feature of this species is the strong smell of bleach emitted by adult specimens. The color can range from yellowish-gray to deep brown. The veined limpet is shown in the photo below:
Fruiting body of an adult mushroom
Doubles and their differences
A characteristic feature of the veined limpet is the strong chlorine smell that accompanies it, making it almost impossible to confuse this species with any other. However, the mushroom has an external resemblance to at least two species.
Petsica
Its fruiting body also consists of a cup-shaped apothecium, reaching up to 10 cm in diameter. The coloring may be the same, but the difference in size will definitely be in favor of the saucer. In addition, the shape of the outer edge of the apothecium in the arctic dog has a characteristic detail - it almost always bends much inward. The saucer can also have edges curved outward.
The characteristic appearance of the fruiting body of the Arctic fox: a highly deformed apothecium with edges curved inward
Almost all arctic mushrooms are conditionally edible mushrooms, just like limpets. You can eat them, but the taste leaves much to be desired.
Line
Only large and mature fruiting bodies of limpets, which have become significantly deformed and have become too dark in color, can be confused with stitching. But the likelihood of this is extremely low - finding such a strongly altered Discyotis is very problematic.
The classic line has a cap diameter of about 13 cm, which is already significantly smaller than adult and even highly compressed saucers. The stem of this mushroom is up to 9 cm long and up to 4 cm in diameter. The cap is covered with characteristic folds that are difficult to confuse with any other mushroom.
The fruiting periods of the compared species also differ: the line can be found in the forest from March to May. In addition, this species has a pleasant mushroom smell.
The twin's leg can be long
You should be especially careful not to accidentally confuse the morel with the veined saucer.
Where and how does it grow
Veined mussel is common in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. Its range is quite extensive: the species can be found in Europe, Asia and America. At the same time, the mushroom itself is quite rare, and it is relatively difficult to find it.
Lives in all types of forests: coniferous, deciduous or mixed. Most often the mushroom is found near oak and beech trees. Prefers moist places with sandy or clay soils. Can grow either singly or in large groups.
Is the veined saucer mushroom edible or not?
This species belongs to the conditionally edible mushrooms. It can be eaten without any fear after heat treatment or drying, which eliminates the characteristic smell of bleach.The duration of boiling the fruiting bodies until they are safe to consume is 10-15 minutes. In dried mushrooms, the smell of bleach disappears after about 2/3 of the moisture has evaporated.
The fruiting body of the veined limpet has no culinary value, since it has absolutely no taste. According to reviews of those who have tried the pulp, it is compared to tasteless fiber; neither protein nor mushroom aroma is felt. In sources published in the USA, this mushroom is classified as poisonous.
How to cook veined limpets
Below is a recipe for fried veined saucer. To give the pulp an attractive taste, simple spices are used.
Ingredients:
- 5 kg of limpet fruiting bodies;
- 30 g butter;
- pepper, salt, lemon juice - to taste.
Preparation procedure:
- The mushrooms are peeled and washed. After which they are cut into slices and boiled for 10-15 minutes in salted water.
- At the end of the cooking process, the fruiting bodies are placed in a colander and the liquid is allowed to drain completely.
- After melting the butter in a frying pan, add the mushrooms.
- After 1-2 minutes of frying, add lemon juice and spices with salt.
- Fry the mushrooms until golden brown.
The benefits of veined limpets
Despite the relative culinary neutrality of the mushroom, it can be used for medicinal and preventive purposes. The beneficial properties of the veined saucer are due to its composition. This mushroom contains glucan and chitin, which can lower blood cholesterol levels. It is believed that the use of these substances supports the functioning of the immune system and improves stress resistance.
In addition, the composition of the veined limpet includes:
- dietary fiber (helps cleanse the intestines);
- B vitamins (improving metabolism, carbohydrate synthesis, red blood cell regeneration, etc.);
- vitamin C (antioxidant, normalizer of metabolic processes);
- ash and other minerals.
The beneficial properties of the veined limpet are also due to the riboflavin it contains (improving vision and functioning of the nervous system) and nicotinic acid, which regulates the functioning of the pancreas.
Contraindications to the use of veined limpets
Eating any product has its positive and negative sides. The harm of the veined limpet is also due to the components included in its composition. For example, the same chitin poses a serious burden on the human gastrointestinal tract.
There are also direct prohibitions on eating veined limpets. They apply to persons who have:
- kidney and liver diseases;
- low acidity;
- various intestinal pathologies.
In addition, pregnant women and children under 6 years of age should not eat limpets.
Conclusion
Veined limpet is a mushroom that has a unique composition, which, although it does not have culinary capabilities, can help improve the health of the body and improve the course of some chronic diseases. At the same time, you should not lean too heavily on this type of food, since the limpet is quite heavy for the human gastrointestinal tract.
