Content
Fire scale is a member of the Strophariaceae family. Its bright color makes the appearance very original. Thanks to her, the mushroom got its name. People call it royal honey agaric, foliota, and willow tree. And in Latin it is called Pholiota flammans.
What does fire flake look like?
Fire flake is classified as a lamellar mushroom. Its spores are located precisely in the plates. They are narrow, tightly pressed to the leg. The color of the plates of young mushrooms is orange-golden. Subsequently, it changes to a dirty red color.
Description of the cap
The fire flake boasts a royal-sized bright cap.Its dimensions can reach 17 cm in diameter. But they often do not exceed 8–9 cm. Young mushrooms are distinguished by the fact that the shape of the cap is similar to a bell. Over time, it becomes flatter and more prostrate.
The color of the caps varies from yellowish to gray-golden. All of them have reddish scales, evenly distributed over the dry surface. The scales are curled upward and bristly. They fold into a concentric pattern. The pulp is tender, bitter in taste, with a pungent odor and has a lighter yellowish tint. When cut, its color does not change.
Description of the leg
The leg of the fiery flake is cylindrical, dense, solid, without voids, yellow or light brown in color. As the name suggests, it is covered with small scales. Their shade is slightly darker than the main tone. The length of the leg can grow up to 10 cm. And its thickness does not exceed 1.5 cm.
In young mushrooms, the stalk is surrounded by a fibrous scaly ring, located not too high. Above it the leg remains smooth, and below the ring it remains rough. Over time it disappears. The pulp is brown in color.
Edibility of fire flake
The flake is considered inedible. But, like other representatives of the Strophariev family, it does not contain poisonous or toxic substances. It has a bitter taste and an unpleasant pungent odor. For this reason, it is not eaten, although it is not formally poisonous.
Where and how does it grow
The most typical places of distribution of fire flake are mixed and coniferous forests. She prefers stumps, dead conifers, especially spruce. It can grow alone or in small groups.
The habitat of Pholiota flammans is limited to the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere of the Earth.It is found in the forests of Europe, in the Urals and Karelia, in the central part of Russia, in Siberia and the Far East.
The fire flake ripens from mid-July. You can collect it until the end of September.
Doubles and their differences
The mushroom has no doubles. Most often, inexperienced mushroom pickers confuse it with other scales: golden, ordinary. Their appearance is similar, and the taste is practically no different.
Conclusion
Fire flake is a spectacular looking mushroom of the Strophariaceae family, quite rarely found in forests. It does not contain poisons. However, experts warn: it is not recommended to eat it.
