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The spotted collibia is an inedible, but not poisonous species of the Ryadovkov family. Despite its tough flesh and bitter taste, it has its fans. The mushroom also has poisonous counterparts, which can lead to mild poisoning. In order not to make a mistake in your choice, you need to get acquainted with the description, study photos and videos.
Description of Collibia spotted
The spotted collibia, or spotted money, is an attractive mushroom with dense flesh and characteristic red spots on the cap. Acquaintance with the species must begin with external characteristics, as well as know the time and place of growth.
Description of the cap
The cap of the mushroom is large, up to 12 cm in diameter. In young specimens it is bell-shaped, with age it straightens and becomes flat with pronounced folded edges. Often the mushroom can be recognized by its bizarre shape; it may look like the palm or paw of an animal.
The surface is covered with snow-white or coffee-colored skin with rusty merging or individual spots of different sizes. The skin of the cap does not absorb moisture and does not change color depending on weather conditions.
The snow-white, fleshy cap is dense and elastic. The spore layer is formed by thin, frequent snow-white plates, partially adherent to the stalk. It reproduces by round, colorless spores, which are located in pink spore powder.
Description of the leg
The leg is 12 cm high and has a cylindrical shape. Tapering at the base, it goes to a considerable depth into the substrate. With age, it can become twisted and change shape. The color of the scales is white, with red spots. The fruit body is dense, fibrous, and becomes hollow with age.
Is spotted collibia edible or not?
This representative is conditionally edible. Due to its tough pulp and bitter taste, it is rarely used in cooking. But after prolonged soaking and boiling, the mushrooms can be fried, stewed and canned.
Where and how does spotted money grow?
Prefers to grow in damp clearings with acidic soil, among coniferous and deciduous trees. It can also be found on rotting stumps and other woody debris. The mushroom begins to bear fruit in August and continues until the first frost.It grows in numerous groups, less often in single specimens.
Doubles and their differences
Like any representative of the mushroom kingdom, it has doubles:
- Talker - an edible species with a bell-shaped cap and a dense, fleshy leg. The smooth surface is painted a light rust color, which fades with age and forms a rusty spot. The cylindrical leg is tall, painted in light lemon color.
- Forest-loving - a conditionally edible species with a snow-white cap and a thin, hollow stem. The fruit body is thin, fragile, without pronounced taste and smell. Grows on rotting wood from early summer until the first frost.
Conclusion
The spotted collibia is a conditionally edible species that is rarely used in cooking, since its flesh is hard and bitter. Distributed in regions with temperate climates and grows among coniferous and deciduous trees. In order not to make mistakes during mushroom hunting, you need to know its detailed description.
