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Fiberwort is one of the many species of lamellar mushrooms that are part of the Volokonnitsev family. Usually mushroom pickers do not pay attention to them, since they bear little resemblance to known edible mushrooms. This is an absolutely correct approach, since the earthen fiber is a poisonous mushroom, and eating it can be deadly.
What does earth fiber look like?
Externally, the earthen fiber looks like a typical toadstool.It has a conical, bell-shaped cap with a characteristic bulge in the center; over time, it straightens out and becomes like an umbrella with drooping or slightly curved edges. Usually its size does not exceed 2-4 cm in diameter, although larger specimens are also found. The cap is white when young, but over time it acquires a bluish-violet color with a pinkish tint, dark in the central part and lighter in the periphery. The color saturation depends on the place where the fungus grows and weather conditions; there are both intensely colored and almost white specimens.
Fiberwort is a dangerous poisonous mushroom
The cap of the earthen fiber is covered with a thin and pleasant to the touch skin, which has a radial fibrous structure. When it rains, it becomes sticky and slippery. The edges of the cap often crack. On the reverse side there are numerous adherent plates. When young they are white, later they darken and become brown or brown.
The stem of the earthen fiber is solid, cylindrical, usually slightly curved. It can grow up to 5 cm long and up to 0.5 cm in diameter. It has a longitudinally fibrous structure, dense to the touch, without an internal cavity, which can only form in old mushrooms. The stem is usually slightly thicker at the base. It is light, in old mushrooms it can turn brown, and there is a light coating in the upper part.
The pulp of the earth fiber is white, brittle, its color does not change when cut. It has an unpleasant taste and a faint earthy odor.
Where does earthen fiber grow?
The earthen fiber grows in the temperate forests of the European part of Russia, as well as in the Far East.It is found in North America, in Western European countries, and also in North Africa. Mushroom growth usually begins in mid-summer and ends in early October. Fiberwort is often found in small groups in grass, along roads, often next to pine trees, with which it forms mycorrhiza.
Is it possible to eat ground fiber
Ground fiber should not be eaten. The pulp of this mushroom contains the same toxic substance as in fly agarics - muscarine, but its concentration in the tissues of the mushroom is much higher. When it enters the human body, this poison affects the digestive organs and the central nervous system.
Fiberwort contains more poisonous muscarine than the well-known fly agaric
In small doses, it causes stomach upset and short-term mental changes, but at high concentrations, collapse, coma and even death are possible.
A short video about one of the representatives of the Volokonnitsev family:
Symptoms of poisoning
Unpleasant consequences from eating earthen fiber can be felt within 20-30 minutes from the moment the mushrooms enter the stomach. Symptoms of poisoning include the following:
- Sharp pain in the abdomen.
- Upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting.
- Changes in heart rate, tachycardia.
- Increased salivation.
- Constriction of the pupils.
- Trembling of limbs.
First aid for poisoning
If symptoms of poisoning by fiber grass (and other mushrooms too) appear, you should immediately contact a medical facility or call a doctor. Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to rinse the victim’s stomach to remove food debris containing toxins from the body. To do this, you need to make him drink a large amount of water, slightly colored with potassium permanganate, and then make him vomit.
To reduce chills, it is better to wrap the victim up
To reduce the absorption of toxins into the stomach tissue, the victim must take any absorbent. It could be, for example, activated carbon, the dose of which is calculated based on the weight of the victim (1 tablet per 10 kg). You can also use other anti-poisoning agents, such as Enterosgel or similar. The victim must lie down until the doctors arrive.
Conclusion
Fiberwort is a dangerous poisonous mushroom. It has no edible counterparts, so cases of poisoning are relatively rare, and there is no information about deaths. However, when collecting mushrooms you should always exercise caution and never take questionable or unknown specimens.
