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Pluteus aureus is a lamellar representative of the fungal kingdom, belonging to the Pluteaceae family. Latin name: Pluteus chrysophlebius. It is very rare and is considered inedible.
What does Plyus aureus look like?
Plutea aureus (shown in the photo) is classified as a small mushroom. The total height varies between 5-6 cm. The fruit body does not have a good taste, and the smell of the pulp is barely perceptible. The aroma can be felt if you carefully rub a fragment of the cap. This smell is comparable to the faint evaporation of chlorine.
Description of the cap
The caps of young specimens are wide-conical, while those of older specimens are flatter; there may be a convexity (tubercle) in the center. The yellow color is brighter in young mushrooms.The color palette ranges from rich yellow to golden straw. With age, a brown tint is added to the color, but the yellowness does not disappear. The flesh of the cap is thin, almost transparent along the edge, finely ribbed, so the color appears dark ocher. At the break, the flesh is light, with a slight yellowness.
The diameter of the cone-shaped cap also changes with age. The indicator ranges from 1 to 2.5 cm.
The surface of the mushroom is shiny, reminiscent of varnished due to moisture. In youth, the cap has a “veininess”, which is visually created by wrinkles in the center of the cap. With old age, the bruising goes away, and the cap becomes smooth.
The plates located under the cap of Plutaea aureus have a whitish tint; after the spores ripen, the color changes, becoming pinkish. The plates have vestigial lamellae.
Description of the leg
The length of the leg of Plyutea aureus usually does not exceed 50 mm, the smallest specimens have a height of 20 mm. The leg is usually smooth, cylindrical, very fragile, its diameter ranges from 1 to 3 mm. When palpated, smoothness is noted. Color – pale yellow, sometimes whitish. At the base you can see a white substance resembling cotton wool - these are the remains of the basal mycelium.
The absence of a ring is noted in Plutaea aureus, which makes it possible to distinguish it from other varieties.
Where and how does it grow
This type of mushroom is very rare, so it is impossible to indicate the exact distribution area.Single representatives of the species were found on different continents, in countries with different climates. The appearance of golden-veined specimens has been recorded in Europe, Asia, and the USA. In Russia, mushrooms can be found in areas with deciduous and mixed forests. Saprophytes are found on stumps and snags of deciduous, and less commonly, coniferous trees. They can form small groups, but are more often found alone.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Due to the low prevalence of the fungus, there is no information about its edibility. Some sources indicate that the aureus is edible, while others classify it as conditionally edible due to the low quality of the pulp and unpleasant odor. But most are still sure that the mushroom is inedible.
The bright colors of the cap mislead mushroom pickers. Many people are afraid to collect the fruiting bodies of plutea, mistaking them for being poisonous. In order not to suffer from an upset stomach and to allow the fungi to spread on the planet, it is better to refuse to collect Plutaea aureus.
Doubles and their differences
Among the pluteaceae, there are several species distinguished by the bright colors of their caps. They have a similar structure, but can be recognized by their size.
The doubles of Plutaeus aureus are considered to be:
- Golden-colored spit. Its main difference is its larger size. This species has more brown shades in its color. It is classified as an edible specimen, but due to its low taste and rare occurrence, it is practically not used as food.
- Lion-yellow spitter. It has a velvety cap, in the center of which a mesh rather than “venous” pattern is discernible.Wrinkling appears in young fruiting bodies and does not disappear with age. Listed among the little-studied but edible specimens.
- Fenzl's Pluteus – one of the most prominent representatives of the genus. Its peculiarity is the presence of a ring on the stem. Due to its rarity, it is included in the Red Book. There is no information about toxicity.
- Orange-wrinkled plute. A distinctive feature is the presence of orange tones in the color. A rudimentary ring can be discerned on the stalk. Edibility and toxicity have not been confirmed, so collecting is not recommended.
Conclusion
Pluteus aureus is a bright yellow representative of the mushroom kingdom. Its collection is difficult due to its low occurrence, and its edibility remains in doubt. Existing twins have a similar color, slightly different sizes, and are poorly studied. The edibility of the lookalikes has also not been proven.
