Content
Hornet truncated, clavariadelphus truncated or bulavastik truncated are the names of the same mushroom. He is one of the representatives of the Gomphov family, and belongs to the genus Clavariadelphus. Its uniqueness lies in its unusual appearance, which is radically different from the general idea of the structure of mushrooms. The official name is Clavariadelphus truncatus.
Where do horntails grow?
Horntail truncated most often grows in groups; when placed close together, individual specimens can grow together. It prefers to grow in deciduous forests, in well-lit, warm and humid areas. At the same time, it forms mycorrhiza with trees, but mainly with beech.
Ripening occurs from the end of August and continues throughout September. In the case of a warm autumn, this period can last until early October.
This species is distributed throughout the Eurasian continent, and can also be found in North America.
What do truncated slingshots look like?
This species is characterized by an elongated shape of the fruiting body, with its apex flattened or expanded. It does not have a clearly defined cap and legs, since they together form a single whole. The apex of the fruiting body reaches 0.5-3 cm in diameter, and narrows closer to the base.
The height of the mushroom varies between 5-8 cm, but sometimes there are specimens 12 cm high. And the width is 3-8 cm.
At the initial stage of development, the surface is smooth, but as it matures, wrinkled furrows appear on it. The inside of the fruit body is hollow. The color of the mushroom can be dark orange or yellow-ochre. There is a light white edge at the base.
The pulp is white-yellow or cream-colored, but when cut, it quickly darkens and turns brown.
The spores are elliptical, smooth, and pale cream in color. Their size is 9-12*5-8 microns.
Is it possible to eat truncated cattails?
The hornet truncated is not a poisonous mushroom, it is classified as edible. But due to its small numbers, it is of no interest to mushroom pickers. Therefore, it is better to give preference to more affordable and tasty types.
Taste qualities of mushroom
According to available data, the pulp of the truncated cattail is characterized by a characteristic bitterness, which negatively affects its taste.Therefore, it belongs to edible mushrooms with low taste qualities and mass procurement of these mushrooms is not carried out.
False doubles
In terms of its external characteristics, this species is in many ways similar to the pistil clavariadelphus. The official name is Clavariadelphus pistillaris. The difference between the latter is that the top of the fruiting body is rounded and resembles a club. The height of this species reaches 20-30 cm, and the width is about 5 cm. At the initial stage of development, the surface of the mushroom is lemon-colored, and as it matures, it becomes yellow-orange. When you press on the flesh, its color changes to reddish-brown. This species is conditionally edible.
At the beginning of growth, the truncated horntail is similar in appearance to its edible counterpart - the fistula hornet. But this is only a distant similarity, since this species is characterized by a thin fruiting body, the height of which reaches 8-15 cm, and the width - 0.5-1 cm. Initially, its tip has a needle-like sharp shape, but as the mushroom matures, it becomes club-shaped and rounded. The surface of the mushroom has a yellowish-ocher tint, and at its base there is a light grayish edge. Refers to conditionally edible.
Collection rules
The hornet truncated is a rare species, therefore in many countries it is listed in the Red Book. In this regard, it is not subject to mass collection, as it is on the verge of extinction. Therefore, every mushroom picker should know that you should not pick this mushroom out of ordinary curiosity or just because it is edible.
Use
You can eat the truncated cattail, but to remove the bitterness, it must first be soaked in cold water for 3-4 hours. And then boiled for 15-20 minutes.However, this cannot significantly improve its taste. Therefore, this species is not of particular interest to a mushroom picker, and it is worth giving preference to the more common and tasty forest fruits.
Conclusion
Crogatus truncata is a unique type of mushroom that has a medicinal effect. Research conducted in 2006 proved its antibacterial activity. In addition, it has also been found to have anti-cancer effects. The substances present in its composition are capable of producing, under certain conditions, an enzyme that stops the growth and development of malignant cells. These qualities are of great interest to specialists. Therefore, the conservation of this species is an important mission.
