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The red flywheel is a small mushroom with a bright, noticeable color. Belongs to the Boletaceae family and is considered one of the smallest among the flyweeds. It is most often found next to moss, which is why it received the corresponding name. Below is detailed information about the red flywheel: main characteristics, distribution, edibility, differences from its counterparts.
What do red moss mushrooms look like?
This specimen is a fruiting body in the form of a cap and stem with the following characteristics:
- At the initial stage of maturation, the cap is convex, cushion-shaped, and with age it becomes almost flat. The surface is velvety to the touch; overripe mushrooms develop cracks. The cap size of the largest specimens is no more than 9 cm in diameter. When young it is colored pink or wine-red, and when mature it becomes dull with greenish or brown tints.
- On the underside of the cap there is a tubular layer of golden-yellow color in young forest products, and greenish-yellow in old ones. When pressed, it acquires a blue tint.
- The pulp is fleshy, dense, golden-yellow in color, and turns blue when damaged. It has no pronounced taste or smell.
- The leg reaches up to 10 cm in height, and the thickness is up to 1 cm in diameter. It has a cylindrical shape, sometimes curved in the middle. Its surface is slightly rough to the touch, solid, dense consistency. The upper part is colored yellow, the lower part is pink or brown with red scales.
- Spore powder is olive-brown in color.
Where do red fly mushrooms grow?
The optimal time for fruiting is from August to September. The species in question prefers places with a warm climate, and even with a slight cooling it stops its development. Most often it grows in deciduous forests, in clearings and forest edges, on the slopes of ravines and in oak forests. In most cases it grows one at a time. The red flywheel is a rare guest in Russian forests, so this mushroom is usually collected along with other specimens. Known in the Far East, Europe and North Africa.
Red moss grows among moss and short grass
Is it possible to eat red mushrooms?
This species belongs to the category of edible mushrooms, like other varieties of fly mushrooms. However, red is assigned the fourth category of nutritional value. This product tends to deteriorate quickly, which is why it is not of particular interest among mushroom pickers.
Taste qualities of the red moss mushroom
Red flywheel does not have a distinct taste, but many experts note that this specimen has a pleasant consistency and structure. Most of them recommend using this product as a secondary ingredient to the main dish.
False doubles
The red moss mushroom is similar in appearance to the conditionally edible Chestnut mushroom. It is worth noting that this variety is not poisonous, but it is not recommended to eat it because of its unpleasant bitter taste. You can distinguish a double by the following criteria:
- the pulp of the chestnut mushroom is white and remains unchanged when cut;
- has a pale yellow spore powder;
- grows in coniferous and deciduous forests on sandy soil;
- the leg is dry, bare, and does not have small scales that are characteristic of the red flywheel.
Chestnut mushroom is only suitable for drying, since in this form its bitterness disappears
Collection rules
In the forest, you should pay attention to young specimens, since old and overripe mushrooms have no nutritional value. When the red flywheel is removed from the soil, its appearance and beneficial properties begin to quickly disappear, so one of the main missions of the mushroom picker is to bring the gifts of the forest home in its original form. Important! To prevent the collected mushrooms from turning into a mushy mass, it is necessary to carry out primary processing as early as possible and begin cooking.
Use
Red flywheel can be used as food in fried, stewed, boiled, salted and pickled form. This species is also suitable for freezing and drying, but when dried, the flesh of the fruiting body changes its usual color to black. Before cooking, red fly mushrooms should be pre-washed, cleared of forest debris and the layer of spores located under the cap removed. It is not necessary to soak this type in water. Due to the fact that red flywheel is practically tasteless, it is not cooked separately, but it is excellent as an accompanying ingredient for fried potatoes, vegetables and other dishes, including mushroom dishes with a more pronounced taste.
If the red flywheel is assembled for drying, then you should not wash it, you can only wipe it
Conclusion
Thanks to its bright color, the red moss is beautiful and noticeable, despite its small size. Thus, the diameter of the cap of the smallest specimens is about 1 cm, and the largest ones – no more than 9 cm. Despite the fact that this species is edible, it is important to remember precautions. If a mushroom picker has doubts about a particular mushroom, then such specimens should be thrown away to avoid health problems.
