Content
Hydnellum orange belongs to the Banker family. Latin name Hydnellum aurantiacum.
What does Hydnellum orange look like?
The taste and smell of the pulp depends on the growing conditions of the mushroom.
The fruiting body of this species is annual and quite large. Hydnellum orange can be recognized by the following parameters:
- The cap is from 5 to 15 cm in diameter. At the initial stage of development, the color is white or cream, but as it matures it acquires orange or brown shades, while the edges remain light.The surface is radially wrinkled, initially velvety to the touch, but gradually becomes bare with irregularly shaped outgrowths of various sizes.
- Under the cap there are spines running down to the stem, up to 5 mm long. In young mushrooms they are painted white, but with age they become brown. The spores are rough, almost spherical, light brown in color.
- The leg is cylindrical, central or shifted to the side, 2-5 cm long, and the thickness in diameter is no more than 2 cm. The surface is felt, colored orange, and acquires brown shades as it matures. During development, it absorbs and envelops a large number of litter fragments and living plants.
- The pulp is woody, hard, orange or light brown in color, and in some specimens it is zonular. Information about the taste and smell of this variety varies significantly. Thus, some sources claim that this gift of the forest does not have a pronounced taste, but exudes a floury aroma, while others, on the contrary, mention an unexpressed smell, as well as a floury or bitter taste.
Where does Hydnellum orange grow?
This species lives on the soil in pine or mixed forests. Can grow singly or in groups. The favorable time for fruiting is the period from July to October. Quite common in the western part of Russia.
Is it possible to eat Hydnellum orange?
The species in question belongs to the group of inedible mushrooms. Despite the fact that no toxic substances have been identified in it, orange hydrellum is not suitable for food due to its special hard pulp.
Similar species
During growth, it envelops obstacles encountered, such as needles, branches or living plants.
Hydnellum orange is similar in some ways to the following relatives:
- Hydnellum golden - not suitable for food use. You can recognize the double by its smaller fruiting bodies, where the cap reaches up to 5 cm in diameter. In addition, a distinctive feature from the described species is the golden-orange color of the spines and the uniformly colored reddish flesh on the cut.
- Hydnellum rusty - belongs to the group of inedible mushrooms. At a young age, the cap is club-shaped, gradually acquiring an obverse-cone shape, in some cases it can be flat or funnel-shaped. The surface is velvety, uneven, whitish in color at the initial stage of development, and as it matures it becomes pale chocolate or rusty brown.
Conclusion
Hydnellum orange is a peculiar mushroom that can be found in the second half of summer and until October in mixed and pine forests. This is an annual specimen, with large fruiting bodies of unusual shape, which tend to grow together. It is not suitable for human consumption, but can be used to dye woolen items in green, brown or grayish shades.
