Boletus mushroom: photo and description, types, why it is called that, when to collect

Content

1 Why is the mushroom called boletus
2 Types of boletus
3 What does boletus mushroom look like?
4 Features of the structure of boletus
5 Where do boletus grow?
6 How long do boletus mushrooms grow?
7 When are boletus mushrooms collected?
8 How to distinguish gall mushroom from boletus mushroom
9 Is boletus an edible mushroom or not?
10 Taste qualities of mushroom
11 Benefits and harm to the body
12 Use
13 Conclusion

Every mushroom picker needs to study a photo of the boletus mushroom; this mushroom is considered one of the most delicious and delicious. It is quite easy to remember the external features of the boletus and find it in the forest.

Why is the mushroom called boletus

The name of the mushroom is very easy to decipher; boletus, or simply birch boletus, is most often found next to birch trees. It forms a symbiosis, or mycorrhiza, with the roots of this tree, although it can also grow close to other trees.

In addition, a certain similarity with birch can be seen in the structure of the mushroom itself; its stem is covered with longitudinal dark-colored scales, partly reminiscent of the stripes on birch trees.

The boletus is also called simply the birch boletus. Sometimes you can see it under the name obabka, this word comes from the dialectical word “baba”, meaning “stump”, and is especially common in the Arkhangelsk and Pskov regions.Accordingly, the word “obabok” simply means a mushroom growing next to a stump, or “with a woman.”

Important! It is interesting that in symbiosis, not only the large tree contributes to the development of the fungus, but the boletus itself provides the birch with the minerals necessary for the plant to develop. Thus, the neighborhood turns out to be equally beneficial for both the birch fungus and the tree.

Types of boletus

In Russia, boletus can be found in several varieties, except the common one. It would be more correct to say that this name combines many species of boletus with photos and descriptions, which differ in color and place of growth, but are similar in structure.

It is useful to know their features in order to know when they are discovered in the forest:

Black. The fruit body is slightly smaller in size than that of an ordinary birch tree, its cap is darker, brown, and the flesh quickly turns blue when broken.
White. The mushroom grows mainly in swamps and mossy shady forests, and is distinguished by a light-colored cap with almost white scales.
Pinkish. You can recognize it by its thin curved leg and gray-brown or brown color. A characteristic feature of the pinking birch is that its cut flesh does not turn blue from contact with air, but acquires a pinkish tint.
Grey. In color and structure, it is similar to an ordinary boletus and has a velvety brownish or olive-brown hemispherical cap.
Harsh, or poplar. In appearance it is similar to an ordinary birch mushroom; in the center of the cap, adult mushrooms may have a small depression. A characteristic feature of the harsh birch tree is its hard pulp.
Blackening. It is distinguished by a yellow-brown cap and a lemon-yellow tubular layer; when cut, it acquires a purple and then black color.
Multicolored. The unusual birch tree has a variegated gray-brown cap, as if covered with frequent strokes.

Studying the varieties of boletus allows you to correctly recognize unusual but edible mushrooms and put them in your basket.

What does boletus mushroom look like?

Boletus is one of the mushrooms that are quite easy to recognize by their appearance. Its cap is convex, hemispherical in shape, reaches 15 cm in diameter. The surface of the cap is matte and dry, and its hue can be gray, brownish-brown or almost black, depending on the variety and growing conditions of the mushroom. On the underside the cap is white when young, but as it matures it becomes grayish-brown, the surface is spongy.

The stem of the boletus is light beige, yellowish or brownish, dense and slightly thickened towards the base. It reaches an average height of 15 cm, is covered with dark longitudinal stripes-scales, they make it possible to unmistakably recognize a birch mushroom.

If you break a birch tree in half, its flesh will turn out to be white; its color will either not change in air or will acquire a bluish or pinkish tint. The structure of the pulp is dense, but in adult mushrooms it becomes loose.

Features of the structure of boletus

Externally, the birch mushroom at a young age can resemble a porcini mushroom in its shape and shade of the cap. But it’s easy to recognize him by his leg. The boletus is characterized by small gray and black scales, which are arranged longitudinally and make the leg look a little like a birch trunk.

The structural features of the fungus largely depend on the place of growth.Thus, birch trees growing in light and dry forests usually have thick and dense legs, while those that appear in damp places and on the outskirts of swamps have tall, thin and lighter legs.

Where do boletus grow?

You can find edible mushrooms almost throughout Russia. The mushroom grows in the middle zone and is found in Siberia and the Far East, in the northern regions. Birch grass can also be found in the Russian subtropics - it can be found in the Caucasus and Crimea.

Most often, birch boletus is found in birch forests directly next to birches; boletus supplies the roots of the tree with nutrients and itself receives important compounds from it. You can also find it in any deciduous and mixed forests, on the edges and on the edge of clearings, near ravines. Birch grass prefers calcareous soils, but can grow on other types of soil.

How long do boletus mushrooms grow?

A characteristic feature of birch trees is the very rapid growth of fruiting bodies. In just a day, they add about 4 cm in height and gain up to 10 g of weight.

Attention! However, boletus mushrooms do not retain their freshness for long. 5-6 days after emerging from the ground, the fruiting body begins to age, the pulp becomes loose, and is often attacked by worms and insects.

When are boletus mushrooms collected?

Edible mushrooms appear quite early, already at the end of May, and grow until October and the first frost. It is recommended to collect them during the period of maximum fruiting, from July to September, when the maximum number of young and fresh fruiting bodies is observed in the forests.

How to distinguish gall mushroom from boletus mushroom

Thanks to the characteristic photo and description of the boletus mushroom, it has practically no false doubles.However, sometimes it can be confused with bittersweet, or gall fungus.

The species are similar to each other in the following ways:

in the shape of the cap, in both it is hemispherical and convex, with a spongy lower surface consisting of many small tubes;
by color - dark brown, gray, light brown, brownish, yellow-brown for both mushrooms;
along the leg - dense, fleshy and slightly thickened in the lower part near the surface of the earth.

However, mushrooms also have significant differences, namely:

the leg of bitterling is not covered with longitudinal scales, like those of birch, but with larger branched veins, reminiscent of vessels;
even in a young gall fungus, the tubes on the underside of the cap are yellowish, and if you cut off the tubular layer, it will quickly turn red from exposure to air;
The upper side of the cap of boletus is smooth, while that of bitterlings is slightly velvety and does not smooth out when touched in damp weather.

In addition, the gall fungus is never touched by worms and forest insects; unlike the birch mushroom, it is not suitable for them as food.

Important! The gall mushroom does not have poisonous properties; even if you eat a little of its pulp, it will not cause serious harm to health.

Is boletus an edible mushroom or not?

According to the description of the boletus mushroom, it is completely edible and belongs to the delicacy category. Both the caps and the stems can be eaten. True, among mushroom lovers the latter are valued much more for their ability to maintain shape and structure. If the caps become soft after cooking and many do not like their consistency, then the legs retain a pleasant strength.

Taste qualities of mushroom

Boletus is considered one of the most delicious mushrooms.It is not without reason that during autumn trips to the forest, finding it is considered a great success for a mushroom picker. The mushroom retains a pleasant taste in all forms after any processing - boiling, frying and pickling.

Benefits and harm to the body

When consumed as food, boletus is not only able to please with its pleasant taste. It has a valuable composition, since its pulp contains:

fats and carbohydrates;
cellulose;
vitamins B1 and B2;
ascorbic acid;
vitamins E and PP;
potassium and manganese;
a huge amount of easily digestible plant proteins;
calcium;
iron, sodium and phosphorus;
magnesium.

At the same time, the calorie content of birch is only 20 kcal per 100 g; with its high nutritional value, it can be considered a dietary product.

Due to the chemical composition of the boletus mushroom, its consumption has a beneficial effect on the human body.

In particular, he:

helps remove waste and toxins from the body, as it has absorbent properties;
supports healthy liver and kidney function;
regulates sugar levels and is very useful for those prone to diabetes;
prevents the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia; consumption of birch leaves supplies the body with iron, vitamins and valuable microelements;
can serve as a substitute for animal protein in the diet; it will be especially useful for vegetarians;
supports normal functioning of the heart and vascular system;
increases immune resistance due to vitamin C and other important substances;
brings a good effect when dieting, because it does not contribute to weight gain, but perfectly saturates.

Of course, even the delicious boletus has certain contraindications.The fungus can be damaged primarily by individual intolerance; it is quite rare, but it exists. Also, you should not consume mushroom pulp in case of chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines and during exacerbations - birch mushroom is difficult to digest and can worsen the condition.

Advice! Due to the large amount of protein in the mushroom, it is not recommended to eat it if you are prone to constipation. You should also control the amount of birch bark; in excess dosages it will create an unnecessary burden on digestion.

Use

The culinary uses of boletus mushrooms are very extensive - these mushrooms are classified as universal and are suitable for any method of cooking. Fruit bodies are fried and boiled, pickled and dried, and added to soups and salads.

Although boletus is a completely edible mushroom, it must be processed before cooking. First of all, the fruiting body is cleaned of plant debris and adhering soil, the skin is peeled off and the stem at the bottom is cut off. After this, the mushroom is washed in cold water.

Unlike many other mushrooms, birch mushrooms do not require soaking. However, it is necessary to put it in water with the addition of lemon juice for at least half an hour - this will prevent the pulp from turning blue. The prepared birch tree is boiled twice, first boiled for 5 minutes after boiling, and then the water is changed and boiled for another half hour along with a whole onion, bay leaf and a couple of peppercorns. Boiled boletus mushrooms can be fried with vegetables, added to salads and side dishes, or pickled.

The medical use of the product also deserves mention. Since birch bark contains a lot of useful substances, many ailments are treated with its help.For example, tinctures using boletus are used to treat gout and osteochondrosis as rubs. Taking tinctures internally has a positive effect on the state of the reproductive system; also, home remedies with the addition of boletus mushrooms have an analgesic and calming effect.

Conclusion

The photo of the boletus mushroom is very easy to remember; this edible mushroom has very characteristic external features, although the size and shade of some varieties may differ. You can eat birch grass without fear; it does not contain any toxic substances and is very beneficial for the body.