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Alpine hedgehog belongs to the Gericiaceae family. It is also called Hericium flagellum, alpine hericium or alpine hericium. The fruiting body is classified as an edible species.
What does alpine hedgehog look like?
It grows in width and height within the range of 5-30 cm. Most often, the base grows greatly, and the shape can be varied. The color of the mushroom is pink. When it dries, it changes color to yellowish or brownish.
The fruit body is branched and tree-like
Where and how does it grow
It grows only in mountainous areas, so it is classified as a rare species.It parasitizes on one type of tree – fir. You can meet him in 15 places in the Russian Federation. The maximum number was recorded in the Irkutsk region. It is found in the Krasnodar Territory, the Republic of Adygea, on the territory of the Caucasus Range, the Crimean Peninsula and in the Amur Region. It is also extremely rare abroad. In all regions it is listed in the Red Book.
It grows in untouched forest, on the slope of a mountain covered with trees, and in the foothills. Actively bears fruit.
You can meet alpine hedgehog in July and August
Is the mushroom edible or not?
The mushroom is classified as edible. It has a delicate and pleasant taste.
How to cook alpine hedgehog
There is no need to pre-treat the fruiting body. It is consumed raw. It is added to salads and delicious side dishes, soups and various sauces are prepared on its basis. Dried fruits are a good seasoning.
You can cook alpine hedgehog together with other forest mushrooms. The result is a delicious fried mixture. They add it to all kinds of homemade baked goods:
- pies;
- pizza;
- pies;
- chebureks.
The harvested crop can be stored in the refrigerator, but no more than three days. After this, the product will become harsh and bitter. Before placing in the refrigerator compartment, rinse thoroughly and fill with salted water for a quarter of an hour, then dry with a towel. Transfer to a tightly sealed bag.
You can dry the crop, but in this case the alpine hedgehog will become tough. It can be used after preliminary soaking, adding it to broth, gravy or soup.
In China, a healing decoction, ointment, compress and tincture are prepared on its basis.
Adult alpine hedgehog
Doubles and their differences
The mushroom can be confused with some other species. It is very similar to the coral hedgehog, which is darker in color and creamy in color. Its fruiting period is longer and lasts until the beginning of October. This species is not so picky regarding the choice of wood on which to settle. Grows on almost any type of deciduous tree. It is classified as rare and edible.
The coral hedgehog bears fruit from July to the end of October
Also, the fruiting body is similar to the combed hedgehog, which is found in Transbaikalia, Amur and Chita regions. It has longer hymenophore spines, which grow up to 5 cm. The color is white. When it dries out or ages, it turns yellow. Classified as edible. The pulp has a pronounced taste of boiled shrimp. Lives on the trunk of a live oak, in its hollow and on stumps.
The fruit body is irregularly shaped and lacks a stalk.
Conclusion
Alpine hedgehog is a rare unusual mushroom. It is famous for its high taste and does not require preliminary heat treatment.
