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Phylloporus red-orange (or, as it is popularly called, phylloporus red-yellow) is a small mushroom of unremarkable appearance, which in some reference books belongs to the Boletaceae family, and in others to the Paxillaceae family. It can be found in all types of forests, but most often groups of mushrooms grow under oak trees. The distribution area includes North America, Europe and Asia (Japan).
Phylloporus is not considered a valuable mushroom, however, it is quite edible after heat treatment. It is not consumed raw.
What does Phylloporus red-orange look like?
The mushroom does not have bright external features, so it can easily be confused with many other species that also have a red-orange color. It does not have highly poisonous counterparts, however, you should still remember the key characteristics of phyllopore.
Description of the cap
The cap of a mature Phylloporus is reddish-orange in color, as the name suggests. The edges of the cap are slightly wavy, sometimes cracking. It is slightly darker on the outside than in the center. Its diameter varies from 2 to 7 cm. Young mushrooms have a convex cap, however, as they grow, it becomes flat and even slightly pressed inward. The surface is dry and velvety to the touch.
The hymenophore in young specimens is bright yellow, but then it darkens to a red-orange color. The plates are clearly visible, they have obvious jumpers.
Description of the leg
The red-orange phyllopore stalk can reach 4 cm in height and 0.8 cm in width. It is cylindrical in shape and smooth to the touch. The top is painted in brownish tones, close to red-orange - the color in which the cap itself is painted. At the very base, the leg has a lighter color, turning into ocher and even white.
The inside of the leg has no voids, it is solid. There is no peculiar ring (the so-called “skirt”) on it. If the fruit body is damaged, there is no milky juice on the cut.There is a slight thickening at the base.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Phylloporus red-yellow is a conditionally edible mushroom. This means that it can be eaten only after additional processing, namely:
- frying;
- baking;
- boiling;
- soaking in cold water;
- drying in the oven or naturally.
The most reliable way to process raw materials for cooking is considered to be intensive thermal exposure - after which there is no risk of poisoning. Drying is less reliable, but also suitable. In its raw form, phylloporus is strictly prohibited from being added to dishes (both young fruiting bodies and old ones).
The taste characteristics of this species leave much to be desired. The red-orange phyllopore has an inexpressive taste, without any bright notes.
Where and how does it grow
Phylloporus red-yellow can be found in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests, and it grows both singly and in groups. The distribution area is quite extensive - it grows in large quantities in North America, the islands of Japan and most European countries. Most often, red-orange phyllopore is found in oak groves, as well as under spruce and beech trees.
Doubles and their differences
Phylloporus has a slightly poisonous counterpart - the pig or thin pig (Paxillus involutus), which is also called the cow, filly, pig, etc. It cannot be eaten, so it is important not to confuse this mushroom with the red-orange phylloporus. Fortunately, they are not difficult to distinguish.The thin plates of the pigweed have the correct shape, and if damaged, the fruiting body of the double becomes covered with brown spots. In addition, the color of the pig's cap is somewhat lighter than that of the red-orange phyllopora, as can be seen in the photo below.
Beginning mushroom pickers may confuse young phylloporus red-yellow with hemlock. A mature phyllopore can be distinguished from a red-orange cap and distinct plates. Specimens that are at the initial stage of development differ from their counterparts in the much less waviness of the cap - in the undergrowth, the curves along the edges are more noticeable and larger, and in general the shape of the mushroom is rather uneven. In addition, in wet weather, the surface of the fruit body of this variety becomes sticky. In Phylloporus this phenomenon is not observed.
This lookalike is classified as an edible mushroom, however, its taste characteristics are very mediocre.
Conclusion
Phylloporus red-orange is a conditionally edible mushroom that cannot boast of good taste. It has no dangerous counterparts; however, an inexperienced mushroom picker may confuse phylloporus with the weakly poisonous little pig, so it is important to know the main differences between these species. The red-orange cap of Phylloporus is darker than that of the phylloporus, however, the young mushrooms are almost the same. In this case, the species are distinguished by slightly damaging one specimen - the filly should noticeably darken under mechanical pressure and acquire a brown tint at the site of damage.
You can learn more about what red-orange phyllopore looks like from the video below:
