Content
The fringed zvezdovik, or sessile, is a mushroom of the Zvezdovikov family. The name comes from the Latin words for "earth" and "star". It resembles an egg or a ball with a diameter of 1 to 4 cm, which is located on the “petals”. The surface is covered with yellowish mycelium.
A young representative of the Zvezdovikov family sitting in the needles
What does the fringed starfish look like?
The young fruiting body has the shape of a ball. As it grows, the outer shell of the fruiting body bursts and opens in the form of flower petals. Sometimes they are straight, but most often the ends are turned up. They can curl and become deformed. The petals are white at first.As it matures, it acquires a brownish color. In appearance, a mature specimen resembles a star up to 15 cm in size. The inner part is a round-type spore-bearing sac, in a thin shell, without a stalk, of a light ocher color. Inside the spore sac are spores.
The surface of the spore is warty, spherical in shape. The spores come out through the hole at the top. It has hard flesh, without a pronounced mushroom smell and taste.
Adult starwort located on fallen needles
Where and how does it grow
This representative is considered cosmopolitan. It has a very wide distribution area. Most often found in coniferous forests, less often in deciduous forests. It practically does not grow in open places. The period of active growth is from August to the end of autumn. Hardly degradable. Can be found even in winter.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Although some mushroom enthusiasts consider young specimens of this species to be edible, there is no evidence that it is not dangerous to the human body. Mature fruiting bodies are considered inedible and are not used in cooking.
Doubles and their differences
Has several doubles. The most common among them are:
- Schmiedel's star. Quite a rare specimen. Grows on desert soil and on woody debris. The fruiting body is up to 8 cm, located on a platform of pointed leaves. It is considered a conditionally edible representative, the fruit value is low.
- The starfish is small. It is small in size, up to 1.8 cm. It has 6-12 petals of a beige-gray hue. Conditionally edible specimen.
Conclusion
The fringed starwort has a wide areole of distribution and looks like a star. The pulp is hard, without mushroom smell and taste.Has several doubles. The young mushroom is eaten, but it does not have any special nutritional value. An adult representative is considered inedible.
