Content
The anise talker belongs to the Oryadovaceae family, the genus Clitocybe. Belongs to saprotrophs. The main feature of the mushroom is its pronounced anise aroma. It is so strong that it can be felt several meters before the fruiting bodies, especially in warm and windy weather. Another name is odorous/fragrant talker.
Where do anise talkers grow?
It is found mainly in deciduous and mixed forests, less often in coniferous forests. Prefers to settle where there are oak trees. It grows on the forest floor and bears fruit in small groups or singly.Distributed in central Russia, it is not found often.
What do anise talkers look like?
The mushroom is small. The diameter of the cap does not exceed 8 cm, most often from 3 to 5 cm. In a young specimen it is convex, as it grows it straightens out, becomes flat or depressed, with a tubercle in the middle. The edge is wavy, sometimes raised. The color can be different: gray-lilac, greenish, blue-blue. With a lack of moisture it becomes whitish.
Anise talker in the photo below.
The plates are quite frequent, adherent, less often slightly descending. The color is the same as the hat.
The leg is not hollow, cylindrical, grayish, with a greenish or yellowish tint. The base is slightly widened, brown, pubescent. The sizes are small: up to 5 cm in height and up to 0.5 cm in thickness.
The pulp is light, watery, not fleshy, and smells strongly of anise.
Is it possible to eat aniseed talkers?
Refers to conditionally edible. Can be eaten.
Taste qualities of the anise govorushka mushroom
The taste is mild, the aroma is bright, anise-dill. The smell does not disappear even after boiling, so not everyone will like the mushroom.
Benefits and harm to the body
The fragrant talker contains clitocybin. This natural antibiotic helps against tuberculosis. In folk medicine it is used to treat epilepsy and reduce cholesterol plaques in blood vessels.
Like any mushrooms, they are difficult to digest. People with gastrointestinal diseases should avoid them or consume them in small quantities. Not recommended for children.
False doubles
Due to its aroma and characteristic color, it is almost impossible to confuse the fragrant talker with other mushrooms.
Smells similar fragrant talker, but it has a yellowish cap. It is classified as conditionally edible.
Mushrooms with discolored caps can be mistaken for white talker species, some of which are poisonous.
Whitish. This is a deadly poisonous species with a floury smell. It differs from anise, which has lost its color due to lack of moisture, by the absence of a characteristic aroma.
Waxy. It is poisonous and has a spicy but quite pleasant mushroom aroma. Poisoning can be fatal.
Grooved. Belongs to the inedible species. The cap is grayish-white or grayish-brown, fading over time. In dry weather it becomes creamy. Has a slightly floury odor.
Winter. Edible talker with a floury smell. The color of the cap is olive-brown, smoky, whitish-brown.
Collection rules
Fruits from late summer to October. Grows especially well in warm, dry weather. If the groups are large, their aroma spreads over several tens of meters.
Use
To reduce the smell, it is recommended to first boil the mushrooms, then fry or stew.
Other cooking options are pickling or salting. Canned ones can be added to salads and snacks as a flavorful seasoning.
Conclusion
Anise talker is a fairly rare conditionally edible species with a specific persistent odor that reduces its culinary value. Similar to many related species, including poisonous ones. It must be recognized by two important characteristics - color and aroma.
