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The most beautiful cobweb belongs to the mushrooms of the Cobweb family. This is a deadly poisonous mushroom with a slow-acting toxin. The peculiarity of its poison is that it causes irreversible changes in the excretory system of the human body, so any possibility of contact with it should be avoided.
What does a beautiful spider web look like?
The most beautiful cobweb (another name is reddish) is a classic lamellar mushroom of the usual type.In its structure, the division into a stem and a cap is clearly visible, although the latter has a slightly non-standard shape.
The color of mushrooms is predominantly brown. Young fruiting bodies are usually brighter; over time they darken a little. The cap of young mushrooms is often glossy. The flesh is yellowish or orange when cut.
Prefers mixed forests, where it lives in symbiosis with spruce. Shows practically no interest in other conifers. In rare cases, mycorrhiza is recorded with oak or ash.
Description of the cap
The caps of adult fruiting bodies reach a diameter of up to 8 cm. Young mushrooms have a conical cap, slightly reminiscent of a bell. As the mass increases, it changes shape. At first it becomes convex, and then its edges flatten. In older forms of the fruiting body, the cap has a barely noticeable tubercle and uneven edges. There is practically no pulp in it.
A photo of the cap of the most beautiful spider web is presented below.
The surface of the cap is most often dry and velvety to the touch. Scaling may occur closer to the edges, but this is rare. The hymenophore is firmly fixed to both the stalk and the edge of the cap. Unlike the same fly agarics, the distance between the plates of the hymenophore is quite large (up to several mm). The color of the spore powder is rusty brown.
In young fruiting bodies, the edges of the cap can be connected to the stem using thin threads resembling a web - hence the name of the mushrooms. This feature is also characteristic of other members of the family.
Description of the leg
The leg reaches a length of up to 12 cm and a thickness of up to 1.5 cm. It has a cylindrical shape, which is slightly thickened at the bottom. Its surface has a fibrous structure. There are blanket belts on the leg.
Where and how does it grow
The most beautiful cobweb is distributed exclusively in Europe. In Russia, it lives mainly in the central part or northern regions. The spider web is not found east of the Volga.
It prefers spruce forests, in which it grows everywhere, both in thickets and on the edges. It is less common in mixed forests. Areas with high humidity are more preferable. It is practically not found in open areas and dry areas. Mostly grows singly, occasionally there are groups of 5-10 pieces. Fruiting lasts from late May to mid-September.
Edible cobweb is a beautiful mushroom or poisonous
This mushroom is deadly poisonous, causing kidney failure. It is strictly forbidden to consume the fruiting bodies of the most beautiful cobweb as food. No amount of treatment can remove its toxins from a mushroom.
Symptoms of poisoning, first aid
The main toxic substance included in its composition is orellanin. This compound affects the respiratory system, musculoskeletal system and kidneys. The danger of this poison lies in its delayed action. From the moment the fruiting body is eaten until the first symptoms appear, 12 to 14 days pass.
Symptoms of poisoning are as follows:
- strong thirst;
- abdominal pain;
- feeling of dryness and burning in the mouth;
- vomit.
Intoxication caused by orellanine can last from several days to six months. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor. If this is not done in time, there is a high probability of death.
The medical institution must carry out various measures to remove the toxin from the body, including artificial dialysis.But even they cannot guarantee successful treatment, since orellanins practically do not dissolve and are not excreted from the body. In some cases, death can occur even after several months of treatment.
Doubles and their differences
The most beautiful cobweb is easily confused with other mushrooms, both belonging to a similar family and having a completely different origin. Below are photos and descriptions of his doubles.
Tuberous honey fungus
Most often, the cobweb is confused with an edible mushroom - tuberous honey fungus or amillaria. Mushrooms are very similar to each other. They have almost the same size and shape. In addition, both honey fungus and spiderwort have a similar habitat and prefer spruce forests.
The differences lie, first of all, in color: honey mushrooms are lighter, they have ocher-colored belts on their legs. In addition, honey mushrooms have a fairly fleshy cap with a tubular hymenophore (the beautiful spiderwort has a lamellar one). You should also not forget about the mucus that traditionally covers honey mushrooms, which the fruiting bodies of the cobwebs do not possess. The gloss on their hat will not be slippery to the touch, but velvety.
Edible cobweb
Another name for the mushroom is fat mushroom. Unlike its poisonous relative, it has a thick and fleshy cap. The remaining parameters of the mushrooms are approximately identical. The habitat is also the same.
The color of the fat ones is also different from the beautiful spiderwort - they are lighter.In older fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom, the cap also becomes thinner, but there is still enough pulp left in it. In addition, its surface will always be watery.
Conclusion
The most beautiful cobweb is a deadly poisonous mushroom that is widespread in the spruce forests of Europe. The elegant appearance of this mushroom often leads to the fact that it can be mistakenly eaten by inexperienced mushroom pickers. The toxins contained in the fruiting body of the beautiful spiderwort are, in most cases, fatal. Diagnosis of poisoning by this mushroom is difficult, since symptoms appear only 12-14 days after consumption.
