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Cobweb mushrooms are little known even to lovers of “quiet hunting” lamellar mushrooms, which must be collected with extreme caution. People call them marshland plants because they grow in marshy soils near swamps. Representatives of the family are distinguished by mucus on the surface of the fruiting bodies. Slimy cobweb also loves moist soils, but grows in pine forests.
Description of the mucous web
The slimy cobweb is distinguished by its medium size, different colors of individual parts, as well as its body surface covered with mucus. This representative grows quite large - up to 16 cm in height. Its dense pulp has a whitish color with an unexpressed bright fruity aroma. The spores are dark brown and rusty.
Description of the cap
At a young age, this representative of the mushroom family has a hemispherical cap of chestnut or light brown color. Its shade in the center is darker than at the edges. In adulthood, it becomes convex, and later acquires an almost flat, prostrate shape. The surface of the cap is moist, shiny, slimy. Brown, brown adherent plates are placed with average frequency. The diameter ranges from 5 to 10 cm.
Description of the leg
The thin and long leg grows up to 15 cm in height, reaching a diameter of about 2 cm. It has a regular cylindrical shape, tapering at the bottom, and a light color that becomes darker at the base. There is no mucous substance observed in the upper part of the stalk, and the surface is smooth and silky.
Where and how does it grow
Preferring forests with a predominance of coniferous trees, the slimy spider web settles under pine trees and forms mycorrhiza with them. It grows alone and is quite rare in the temperate climate of the northern hemisphere. This species actively bears fruit from late summer until the October cold.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Abroad, the slimy cobweb is classified as an inedible mushroom, but in Russia it is classified as a conditionally edible mushroom. Before eating, the fruiting bodies are thoroughly washed and boiled for 30 minutes. The broth is drained and not used for food.
Doubles and their differences
A slippery, mucus-covered surface is what distinguishes this mushroom. Among the representatives of the family there are doubles. These include:
- Slime web, which at a young age has a bell-shaped cap, which over time acquires a flat shape. The surface color is brown or brown, with a yellowish tint. The leg is white. The entire fruiting body is covered with mucus; it can even hang from the cap at the edges. The mushroom is distinguished by its lack of smell and taste and grows in coniferous and mixed forests. The species is conditionally edible.
- Staining webweed has a screw cylindrical leg, which is shrouded in a spider web. The mushroom does not grow under pine trees, unlike the slimy representative, but under spruce trees. It has a bell-shaped or prostrate cap, shiny and moist. The variety is edible.
Conclusion
Slimy cobweb is not a high quality mushroom. However, it also has its fans, who know the peculiarities of processing fruit bodies and preparing non-traditional dishes. Like all representatives of the conditionally edible category, it requires complex heat treatment. However, it is better for novice mushroom pickers to avoid such exotics.
