Content
Kalocera hornata is a conditionally edible specimen of the Dacrimycetes family. The species can be recognized by its bright color and horn-like shape. The fungus is widespread everywhere and prefers rotten deciduous wood. It begins to bear fruit from the first warm days. To recognize this representative of the forest kingdom, you need to read the description, view photos and videos.
What do horny caloceras look like?
This forest dweller is difficult to confuse with other representatives of the mushroom kingdom. Since the species has a horn-shaped, club-shaped shape or some resemblance to miniature petals. Very often, the fruiting bodies grow together, forming ribbed ribbons. The mushroom is small in size, reaching no more than 2 cm in height and 3 mm in thickness.
The surface of young specimens is shiny and bright orange; with age, the color changes to dirty orange. The pulp is elastic, gelatinous, has no taste or smell. A hymenophore is located over the entire surface of the fruiting body. Reproduction occurs by miniature, colorless spores, which are found in snow-white powder.
Where do Calocera hornata grow?
Kalocera is widespread throughout Russia. Prefers to grow in moist, shaded places, on stumps and damaged deciduous trees, rarely found in coniferous forests. Mushrooms grow in large families, from early spring until the first frost.
Is it possible to eat Calocera horniformes?
This specimen is classified as edibility group 4. But due to the lack of taste and smell, it is used extremely rarely in cooking. Due to its beautiful color, many cooks, after long boiling, use it as a decoration for cold and meat dishes.
In Russian forests you can find edible and inedible counterparts:
- Dacrimyces vanishing - an inedible representative of the mushroom kingdom. The young fruiting body has an irregular drop or ball shape. During growth, the surface is orange-red, then the color changes to bright lemon. In dry weather, the mushroom dries out. When mechanically damaged, the gelatinous pulp releases bright red juice.
- Deer horns – a conditionally edible species that grows in small groups on rotten wood. The mushroom can be recognized by its bright yellow color and branch-like shape of the fruiting body. It begins to bear fruit from July to the end of September. Despite the lack of taste and smell, many mushroom pickers eat this species. They can be boiled, stewed, dried and fried.Important! Because of their bright color, European cooks boil deer horns and use them as a decoration for cold dishes.
Conclusion
Kalocera hornate is a beautiful and bright forest inhabitant that is found throughout the warm period in deciduous forests. Since the pulp does not have a mushroom taste or smell, this specimen is eaten extremely rarely. In order not to confuse the species with its inedible counterparts, experienced mushroom pickers recommend not collecting this species, but simply admiring it.
