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The ragged puffball (lat. Lycoperdon mammiforme or Lycoperdon velatum) is a rather rare species, which is considered one of the most beautiful representatives of the Champignon family. The name of the mushroom is based on the structural feature of the cap, which makes it easy to distinguish it from other varieties of puffballs.
Description of the ragged raincoat
The shape of the fruiting body resembles an inverted pear, especially in young specimens. As it matures, the cap expands and takes on a flattened appearance.
The diameter of the mushroom can reach 4-5 cm, height - 6 cm. At the initial stage of development, the skin is relatively smooth, covered with large grooves.Over time, its top layer breaks, so the caps of adult ragged puffballs are covered with large white flakes, as can be seen in the photo below. As a rule, they are lighter than the rest of the mushroom, which by this time darkens slightly and acquires a beige or ocher color. At the base of the stem, the outer cover remains for quite a long time, which is why a kind of collar is usually formed under the cap, the edges of which are curved down.
The cut flesh is white, but only in young specimens. In mature mushrooms it darkens and becomes chocolate-colored.
The cap of a ripe puffball is covered with uneven white flakes
Doubles and their differences
The ragged raincoat has few duplicates, since its unusual appearance makes it easy to distinguish it from false representatives of the family. On the other hand, inexperienced mushroom pickers can still mistakenly collect, instead, a related subspecies - edible puffball (lat. Lycoperdon perlatum) or prickly.
In young mushrooms, the surface of the cap is warty, and each tubercle has a conical shape. Because of this, it seems that the cap is studded with small thorns. Old specimens do not have them, so based on their general silhouette they can be confused with a ragged raincoat. But the skin of the latter is never smooth; its cap is covered with large flakes. Young mushrooms have distinct cracks on the surface, which is not observed in the double.
As the name suggests, edible puffball can be eaten, but it is advisable to collect the white fruiting bodies - their pulp is elastic and tasty. A dark cap indicates the age of the mushroom.
This species bears fruit from June to October-November.It can be found in both coniferous and deciduous forests.
On the surface of the cap of the edible puffball there are many small spines
The baggy golovach (lat. Bovistella utriformis) or the bladder-shaped golovach is another double. They can be distinguished, first of all, by their size - a similar variety is much larger than the ragged puffball. The height of the baggy bighead can reach 10-15 cm, some specimens even grow up to 20 cm. For this reason, it is possible to confuse different species only at a young age.
Another difference between them is the structure of the cap. In the ragged raincoat, it is covered with torn flakes, which are located on the surface not too tightly to each other. The bighead has a lumpy cap - the skin is represented by convex warty formations that are adjacent to each other.
The double bears fruit from the last days of May to mid-September, with the peak of ripening occurring in July. You can find it on forest edges and meadows, most often alone.
There are no significant gaps between warty formations
Where and how does it grow
The puffball prefers deciduous forests and grows mainly under oak or hornbeam. Most often it bears fruit in small groups, but single specimens can also be found. The distribution area includes areas with a mild, warm climate. In Russia, this species can be found within the middle zone.
The fruiting season is from July to October, but sometimes it extends until November if the year is warm.
Like other mushrooms, puffball quickly absorbs toxic substances from the soil. For this reason, it is better not to collect old fruiting bodies, especially if they grow near roads. A large amount of heavy metals accumulate in their pulp.
Is the ragged puffball mushroom edible or not?
Puffball puffball is classified as an edible variety, but it is recommended to eat only young mushrooms. These include specimens that have not yet formed spores - their flesh is soft, tender and juicy.
The ragged puffball is prepared in different ways, but most often the fruiting bodies are finely chopped and fried in a frying pan or grill - they tolerate heat treatment well. In this case, the pulp does not soften to a jelly-like state and does not fall apart. During cooking, the caps and stems do not decrease in size.
For the winter, the crop is usually dried, but raincoats can also be pickled.
Useful properties of patchy raincoats
The benefits of puffball have been known for a long time - for several centuries, patients in European countries have been fed broth from the pulp of this mushroom. The beneficial effect on the human body is explained by the fact that the fruiting bodies of this species quickly absorb heavy metals and waste. That is why dishes made from it are recommended for consumption by people with kidney and liver diseases. In addition, the flocculent compounds contained in the raincoat strengthen the human immune system and reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Conclusion
The ragged puffball is an edible mushroom that does not have poisonous counterparts, so it can be collected without much danger. All species similar to it are suitable for consumption, so even in the event of an error, there will be no harm from the harvested crop. In this case, it is advisable to give preference to young specimens, since the pulp of overripe mushrooms acquires an unpleasant aftertaste. In addition, old fruiting bodies contain a large amount of harmful substances, which they pull out of the soil as they develop.
You can learn more about what a ragged raincoat looks like from the video below:
