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Russulas are tasty, healthy mushrooms that can be found throughout Russia. But, unfortunately, mushroom pickers often come across false doubles, which can lead to food poisoning. Russula acute is a poisonous species that can be confused with edible specimens. In order not to harm the body, you need to know the description of the species, look at photos, study the first signs of poisoning and how to properly provide emergency care.
Where do Russulas grow?
Acute russula, or sardonyx, grows in coniferous and mixed forests. Peak growth occurs at the end of August and beginning of September. Sardonyx mushroom prefers acidified, moist or peaty soil. The russula prefers to grow in families in open sunny places.
What do russulas look like?
To avoid false doubles in your basket, you need to know what pungent russulas look like, where and how they grow. Acute russulas belong to the lamellar species. They are small and similar in appearance to edible species.
To know the differences between edible and poisonous russula, you need to look at the photo.
Description of russula sardonyx
The cap of the russula reaches a diameter of 3-10 cm. In young russula it is convex, and with age it becomes thickened and flat with a pronounced darkened depression in the center. The red, purple or lilac skin does not completely come off during peeling. There is also a sardonyx variety with a lilac, purple or greenish-black tint.
The plates of the acute russula are frequent, narrow, fused with the stalk. In young mushrooms they are colored pure cream, and with age the color changes to bright yellow.
The pulp of the cylindrical or spindle-shaped leg is white, dense, with a weak apple aroma and a sharp-bitter taste. In an adult sardonyx variety, the stalk becomes flabby, empty and fibrous. The outer scales are often light red, lilac or purple in color. The length of the leg is from 2 to 6 cm, thickness – 10-18 mm.
Spore powder is dirty cream color. The spores themselves have no color, but have an amyloid warty pattern and look like small ellipses measuring 7x6 microns.
Is it possible to eat russula sardonyx?
The acute russula belongs to the 4th group of edibility, but many mushroom pickers believe that it is unsuitable for cooking.
Due to its strong bitterness and pungent taste, russula is not used for frying, stewing and pickling, but after prolonged soaking and boiling, the pungent variety can be used for pickling.But, as experienced mushroom pickers advise, it is better not to collect this variety, since if the preparation technology is incorrect, it can cause food poisoning, especially in children, pregnant women, people with kidney or liver failure and gastrointestinal diseases.
How to distinguish acute russula
The Sardonyx variety may be confused with the edible species. But in order not to make a mistake in choosing, you need to know the differences:
- late appearance;
- dense pulp that changes color when heated;
- bright yellow plates in old specimens;
- burning-bitter taste;
- bright color of the cap;
- poor separation of the skin from the cap;
- faint apple smell;
- red reaction to ammonia.
Symptoms of Russula poisoning
Spicy russula is an inedible species. Therefore, if it accidentally ends up in the basket and then on the table, then you need to know the first symptoms of intoxication in order to rinse the stomach and intestines in a timely manner.
The first signs appear after about 2-4 hours. But there are cases when intoxication begins after half an hour, after 5-7 hours or after a day. It all depends on certain factors:
- volume of food eaten;
- speed of food absorption;
- what dish was eaten: fried, stewed, salted or pickled;
- the victim's age and body weight.
Mushroom poison does not appear immediately; intoxication can begin after a few hours or days. Doctors distinguish 3 stages of food poisoning:
- Damage to the gastrointestinal tract. The duration of this stage depends on the number of pungent mushrooms eaten.
- Temporary improvement. All previous symptoms are absent.
- If assistance is not provided, damage to internal organs, the central nervous system and blood circulation may occur.
In the first stage, the victim experiences nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Subsequently, sharp pain in the epigastric region, weakening of the pulse, weakness, sweating, lack of appetite and low blood pressure begin.
First aid for poisoning with acute russula
If signs of intoxication appear, treatment begins immediately. Timely assistance is the key to a speedy recovery.
Spicy russula does not contain dangerous poisons and toxins in its pulp, so after consumption only mild food discomfort can occur. At the initial stage of intoxication, it is necessary to wash the intestines and stomach.
To stop the absorption of toxins into the blood, the victim is given sorbents, such as activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight). The intestines are cleansed using laxatives or an enema.It is better to give preference to medications, since folk remedies may be ineffective and begin to act after a few hours.
If it is difficult to induce vomiting, then give a saline solution or potassium permanganate to drink, diluted with warm water to a pale pink color. You also need to increase your fluid intake, up to 4-5 liters per day.
During intoxication, it is strictly forbidden to take antiemetic and restorative drugs. Because with the help of vomiting and diarrhea, the body fights poisons and toxins.
Acute russula does not cause serious harm to the body; food intoxication passes quickly and without consequences.
During mushroom hunting, you must remember that forest products can cause irreparable harm to the body. Therefore, you need to collect only familiar species. If in doubt, it is better to pass by to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Conclusion
Russula is a poisonous mushroom, the consumption of which can cause mild food poisoning. In order not to make a mistake when collecting and not to collect a whole basket of false russula, you need to know the distinctive signs.
