Content
False pig mushroom is a rather large and edible mushroom. Belongs to the Trikholomova or Ryadovkov family. The Latin name of this species is Leucopaxillus lepistoides. It also has a number of other synonyms: wen, leucopaxillus lepistoid, leucopaxillus lepistoid, pseudopustine lepistoid, leukopaxillus petitoid.
Where does the false pig grow?
The distribution area of this representative is quite wide, but is most often found in the temperate climate zone of Europe.It lives in forests of various types, and can also be located in pastures, clearings and meadows, prefers moist soil. The optimal time for fruiting is from mid-summer to the first frost. Usually grows in large groups, while forming witch rings.
What does the false pig look like?
This species is almost never found alone
You can recognize Pseudo-pig-formula by the following characteristic features:
- At the initial stage of development, the cap is dome-shaped with folded edges inward. With age, it becomes prostrate with a depressed center. The structure is elastic, fleshy and tight. Most specimens reach quite respectable sizes. Thus, the cap can be up to 40 cm in diameter. The surface is velvety, with a light edge along the edges. It is colored white and gray, sometimes with uneven greenish or bluish spots. In older specimens, the depressed middle becomes creamy.
- The leg is cylindrical, straight, slightly thickened at the base. As a rule, its color matches the color of the cap. The length of the leg reaches about 8 cm, and the thickness in diameter is up to 4 mm. The inside is dense, fibrous, without voids.
- On the underside of the cap there are wide, frequent plates that slightly fall down onto the stem. In young mushrooms they are colored whitish, and in mature ones they become creamy. The spores are smooth and ellipsoidal. Spore powder is creamy.
- The pulp is elastic, dense, white, does not change color when damaged, and does not emit milky juice. It has a pronounced mealy aroma and pleasant taste.
Is it possible to eat false pig
The species in question belongs to the group of edible mushrooms.False pig row-shaped is suitable for almost any type of culinary processing.
False doubles
The pulp is never affected by insect larvae
In terms of external characteristics, the pseudopig is similar to the following forest gifts:
- Giant talker – a conditionally edible mushroom, belongs to food category 4. These species are very similar in size of fruiting bodies and places of growth. A distinctive feature of the double is its funnel-shaped cap, the color of which varies from white to fawn or cream. In addition, the pulp of the giant talker does not have a pronounced aroma.
- White champignon – one of the most popular and edible mushrooms. It is similar to Pseudo-pig ryadovaya only in the color of the fruiting bodies, otherwise it is not difficult to distinguish the double. Thus, a champignon can be recognized by its more modest size, since the cap reaches no more than 8 cm in diameter. Another feature is the lamellar layer of a pinkish tone.
- White pig gentian - belongs to the group of inedible mushrooms. The size of the cap in diameter varies from 3 to 20 cm. The surface of the cap is painted in brown shades, which makes it distinguishable from the row-shaped false pig. However, in adulthood, the cap of the double fades and becomes similar to the described species. In addition, you can distinguish the gentian white pig by the bitter taste of the pulp, which is not inherent in the wen.
Collection and use
When going in search of false pig, you should know that this specimen grows in open areas from July to October.
False pig has excellent nutritional qualities. No pre-treatment is required before preparing any dish from this ingredient. These mushrooms can be served as a main dish or as a tasty addition to a side dish. You can eat them in any form: salted, pickled, fried, boiled, stewed.
Conclusion
Thus, the false pig is a valuable mushroom, which differs from many of its relatives in the large size of its fruiting bodies, pleasant taste and pronounced aroma. Another feature of this species is that its fruits are almost never wormy. However, due to the massive plowing of the land, the number of this species has noticeably decreased over several years, and in some regions the wen is under protection.
