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Blushing hygrophorus (lat. Hygrophorus erubescens) is an edible lamellar mushroom of the Hygrophoraceae family. Another name for the species is reddish hygrophorus.
What does a blushing hygrophore look like?
Hygrophorus blushes is a mushroom with a fairly classic appearance - its fruiting body consists of a high stalk and a spreading dome-shaped cap. In young specimens the latter is round, almost ovoid. As the fruiting body grows, it gradually opens, but a small tubercle remains in the center.
The color of the cap is light pink, approaching white. Sometimes small blurry yellow spots are present on the surface. Closer to the center the cap darkens.It is uneven and slightly sticky to the touch, covered with many small scales. The diameter of the cap varies from 5 to 11 cm.
The hymenophore is represented by free white-pink plates descending to the stalk. The spore powder of this species is white.
The leg can reach 5-8 cm in height, the diameter varies from 1 to 2 cm. It is straight and cylindrical in shape. There is a slight expansion at the base. The color of the legs is whitish-pink.
The pulp is dense and slightly grainy, light pink in color, which turns yellowish at the cut site. In young mushrooms, it tastes quite bland, however, as the fruiting body grows, it begins to taste bitter. The smell of hygrophorus blushing is inexpressive.
Where does Hygrophorus blush grow?
In large quantities, reddened hygrophorus is found in coniferous and mixed forests, and most often it is adjacent to spruce and pine trees. Peak fruiting of this mushroom occurs at the end of August - beginning of September.
Is it possible to eat hygrophor reddening?
It is an edible mushroom, although not particularly popular. The fact is that its taste is rather inexpressive, so this species is used mainly as an additive to other mushrooms.
False doubles
Most often, reddening hygrophorus is confused with russula hygrophorus (lat. Hygrophorus russula) or russula, which is popularly called cherry. They have an almost identical appearance, but the double is generally larger than its relative, which is especially noticeable by the leg - it is much thicker. Its flesh is white; when cut, it turns red.
This species grows in deciduous and mixed forests, primarily under oak trees. It practically never occurs alone; it is usually found in small groups. Fruiting occurs in August and September.
Another false double is the poetic hygrophorus (lat. Hygrophorus poetarum), which is also classified as an edible species. It is distinguished from hygrophorus blushing by its lighter color and pleasant jasmine aroma.
This species usually grows in deciduous forests in groups. Large accumulations are also found in mountainous areas; most often the mushroom is found under beeches. It is collected from July-August to September.
Hygrophorus virgineus (lat. Hygrophorus virgineus) is a conditionally edible mushroom that can be eaten only after heat treatment. This species is distinguished from the reddening hygrophorus by its color - there are no pinkish stains on its fruiting body. In addition, it has a more graceful outline overall.
Hygrophorus maidens grows in mountainous areas, on plains and in areas of deforestation. The species bears fruit from August to September.
Rules for collection and use
During harvesting, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Abundant fruiting of this species is observed during periods of high humidity, so it is better to go to the forest 1-2 days after the rain.
- The harvest is often harvested in the morning. At this time, the air is saturated with moisture after the coolness of the night, thanks to which the collected fruiting bodies will remain fresh longer.
- Place the mushrooms in a wicker basket with sufficiently large gaps that allow air to pass through well. This way, the resulting harvest will not deteriorate during the harvest and journey back. Plastic bags cannot be used; cut fruit bodies in them begin to quickly soften and deteriorate.
- They look for mushrooms mainly under trees and shrubs; reddened hygrophorus is rarely found in open areas. Sometimes fruiting bodies are covered with leaves, so it is better to take a stick on a hike to make it easier to look for them.
- It is strictly forbidden to collect fruits near roads and industrial buildings - the pulp of mushroom bodies quickly accumulates lead contained in exhaust gases, as a result of which they become unsuitable for consumption.
- It is also forbidden to collect mushrooms in forest shelterbelts - the fields are treated with strong chemicals, which, through groundwater, can negatively affect the mycelium.
- You cannot pull mushrooms out of the ground. It is recommended to carefully cut them with a knife or unscrew the stem from the mycelium.
There is still no consensus on the last point. Some scientists are convinced that it is safest to cut off the fruiting body, since twisting it can still damage the mycelium. Opponents of this opinion argue that cutting, on the contrary, is more dangerous than twisting - a rotting process can begin at the cut site, which subsequently spreads to the entire mycelium.
The taste qualities of reddening hygrophorus are average; the mushroom is not considered valuable. The smell of fruiting bodies is also inexpressive and weak. In this regard, the variety is usually used as an additive to other mushrooms.
Despite the fact that reddening hygrophor can be consumed raw, this is rarely done - without additional processing, its pulp can become bitter, especially if the fruit body is old. On the other hand, it is perfect for pickling for the winter.
Conclusion
Hygrophorus blushes is an edible, but not particularly valuable mushroom. Its taste is quite mediocre, so most often this species is used in cooking in combination with other mushrooms. The reddened hygrophorus has no dangerous counterparts, but it is easily confused with related varieties, some of which are conditionally edible - they cannot be eaten without prior processing.
You can learn more about how to properly pick mushrooms from the video below:
