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Among the many conditionally edible representatives of the mushroom kingdom, the satanic mushroom stands a little apart. Scientists have not yet come to a clear conclusion about its edibility; in some countries it is allowed to be collected and eaten, in others it is considered poisonous. Next, a photo and description of the satanic mushroom will be given, the places where it grows will be described, and distinctive features will be given that will allow it not to be confused with other species.
Why is the satanic mushroom called that?
Boletus satanas is the Latin name for the satanic mushroom. The exact origin of this name is not known with certainty. Most likely, it is connected with the color of the leg. Its color is bright red or crimson near the ground, closer to the cap the tone becomes lighter, the color turns into white, pink or yellow. Thus, the growing satanic mushroom vaguely resembles a tongue of hellish fire escaping from the ground. A satanic mushroom growing in the forest is pictured below.
The second hypothesis for the origin of the name is related to the fact that it is visually somewhat similar to a real boletus, the desired prey of many mushroom pickers, but at the same time it is inedible, poisonous, a kind of decoy.
Where does the satanic mushroom grow?
The satanic mushroom grows in deciduous (less often in mixed) forests with a predominance of oak, beech, hornbeam or linden, with which it often forms mycorrhiza. You can meet it in well-lit places from June to October. Prefers to grow on calcareous soils. In Russia it grows to a limited extent, found mainly in some southern regions, in the Caucasus, as well as in the southern part of the Primorsky Territory. Boletus satanas is widespread in the countries of Southern and Central Europe.
An overview video about this representative of the Boletov family can be viewed at the link:
What does a satanic mushroom look like?
According to the description, the satanic mushroom has quite a lot of similarities with the well-known porcini mushroom (lat. Boletus edulis), which, however, is not surprising, since both species are part of the same family. Its cap is 5-25 cm in diameter, dense, massive, semicircular or cushion-shaped, covered with white, cream or greenish-yellow velvety skin on top. The lower part of the cap is tubular, its color can vary from yellow to orange or deep red.The flesh turns red at the break and then turns blue.
The leg is 15-17 cm long, the diameter in the thickened part can reach 10 cm. The shape is pear-shaped or barrel-shaped, the color is red, crimson, beetroot or pink, there is a distinguishable mesh pattern on the surface. When cut, the flesh of the stem of the satanic mushroom turns first red and then blue.
Is Satanic mushroom edible or poisonous?
Mycologists do not have a consensus on classifying Boletus satanas as edible or inedible. In Russia, the satanic mushroom is definitely considered poisonous, since consuming it raw is guaranteed to result in poisoning. Even after prolonged heat treatment of the fruiting body, toxins remain inside it, which can cause deterioration in health. Despite this, in some European countries, for example, in the Czech Republic and France, the satanic mushroom is considered conditionally edible and is actively collected, eating it after prolonged soaking and heat treatment.
The issue of edibility or inedibility of Boletus satanas has not been finally resolved. However, it is still better for mushroom pickers, especially inexperienced ones, to refrain from collecting it. There is no need to risk your health with such an abundance of other mushrooms in Russia, especially since many of them are guaranteed to be tastier and safer.
What does satanic mushroom taste like?
Experienced mushroom pickers have a saying: “You can eat all mushrooms, but some only once.”It is most directly related to the described member of the mushroom community. Consuming it raw is contraindicated as it can be fatal. In those countries where Boletus satanas is considered conditionally edible, before consumption it is soaked for a long time and then boiled for at least 10 hours.
After this treatment, it becomes almost tasteless, although some find its taste slightly sweet. Considering all the nuances and restrictions associated with the use of this product, its nutritional and culinary value is in question.
How to distinguish a satanic mushroom
The Boletaceae family (lat. Boletaceae) is quite extensive and at the same time poorly studied. It includes, in addition to Boletus satanas, the following inedible boletus:
- Whitish boletus (lat. Boletus albidus).
- Pink-golden boletus (lat. Boletus rhodoxanthus).
- False satanic mushroom (lat. Boletus splendidus).
- Legal boletus, or de Gal (lat. Boletus legaliae).
In addition to these boletus mushrooms, other types of boletus mushrooms that are poorly studied or not classified are also classified as inedible.
There are a number of other representatives of this family, the edibility of which is not unanimous. These include the following conditionally edible boletus mushrooms:
- Olive-brown oak tree (lat. Boletus luridus).
- Speckled Oak (lat. Boletus erythopus).
All representatives of the Boletaceae family have certain similarities. In order not to make a mistake when harvesting a forest crop and not to pick satanic boletuses instead of edible ones, you need to very clearly know their distinctive features.
The difference between the satanic mushroom and the oak mushroom
In appearance, the oak mushroom (poddubnik) and the satanic mushroom are very similar.It is not easy to distinguish them even by indirect signs: both turn blue when pressed. They ripen in the same period of time, so it is quite easy to confuse these two species. Nevertheless, there are still differences between them.
Unlike oak mushroom, the satanic mushroom does not turn blue immediately. At the break, its flesh first turns red, and then only the color changes to blue. Dubovik, on the other hand, turns blue almost immediately at the site of mechanical damage. There are other signs by which these two mushrooms can be distinguished. The flesh of the oak mushroom is lemon-colored, while that of the satanic mushroom is white or slightly creamy. The cap of a young oak tree has a pleasant olive color, turning into orange or burgundy with age; the color of the cap of Boletus satanas is white, cream or slightly greenish.
The difference between a satanic mushroom and a white mushroom
It is very easy to distinguish a white mushroom from a satanic one. The easiest way is to cut it in half. White, unlike satanic, never turns blue when cut. Differences also appear in color. The common boletus is never painted in such flashy colors; it does not have a red leg or an orange tubular layer. Sectional view of the Satanic mushroom – pictured below:
The porcini mushroom differs from the satanic mushroom in its much wider distribution area, which reaches the Arctic Circle and even affects the Arctic zone. Naturally, Boletus satanas simply does not occur at such latitudes. Even in central Russia, its discovery can be attributed rather to exceptions. This is confirmed by the fact that in almost all countries it is called the same, in contrast to the real boletus, which has a huge number of local names.
Satanic mushroom poisoning
As noted above, eating satanic mushroom in its raw form is strictly contraindicated. This will 100% lead to poisoning. The pulp of the fruiting body contains muscarine, the same toxin found in fly agarics. Its content is slightly less, but even in such concentrations it can lead to severe poisoning. In addition to muscarine, the pulp of the fruiting body contains the toxic glycoprotein bolesatine, which enhances blood clotting.
Gerard Houdou in his “Encyclopedia of Mushrooms” classifies Boletus satanas as poisonous. Some other mycologists consider it mildly poisonous and allow its consumption as food, since the toxins it contains are in the same group as the milky juice of some agaric mushrooms. Therefore, they believe that the maximum that can threaten someone who eats a piece of satanic mushroom is an upset stomach. There is no consensus on this issue. Despite this, everyone agrees on one thing: Boletus satanas should not be consumed raw.
Soaking and prolonged heat treatment reduces the content of toxins in the fruiting body to a certain level acceptable for humans. However, a child or an adult can be poisoned by a satanic mushroom after all the required treatments. Any mushrooms themselves are quite heavy food, and not every stomach can withstand them. No wonder their use is contraindicated for children under 10 years of age. Symptoms of satanic mushroom food poisoning include the following:
- stomach upset;
- persistent diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
- vomit;
- limb spasms;
- severe headaches;
- fainting.
Severe poisoning can result in respiratory paralysis or cardiac arrest.When the first signs of poisoning are detected, it is necessary to rinse the stomach, reducing the amount of toxins in the body. To do this, you need to drink as much as possible of a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then induce vomiting. If potassium permanganate is not on hand, you can use mineral or ordinary water with a little salt added. To reduce the absorption of toxins in the stomach, in case of satanic mushroom poisoning, you need to take an absorbent substance (activated carbon, Enterosgel, Polysorb or similar drugs).
Conclusion
The photo and description of the satanic mushroom are far from complete information about this representative of the Boletaceae family. Due to its very limited use, it has been studied rather poorly, so it is possible that mycologists in the future will unambiguously classify it into some category. Until this happens, it is better to refrain from using it, so as not to harm yourself again. Mushroom pickers have a golden rule: “I don’t know, I don’t take it,” and it should be followed not only in relation to the satanic mushroom.
