Morel cap is an edible, large and fleshy mushroom. The color of this fungus may be different, depending on its age. The name was due to the resemblance to morels, and a small hat on the leg sits freely. This kind of mushroom can be found in mixed as well as deciduous forests.
How else called a morel cap
The name Morel cap came from the fact that the mushroom cap is very similar to real morels. In addition to this name, its name is popularly:
- cap;
- cap;
- morel gentle;
- conical hat;
- Czech Verpa.
Description and Feature
Morel hat has a peculiar shape and appearance, due to which it cannot be confused with other types of mushrooms.
- Hat small in size, the shape of which resembles a cap. It is all covered with vertical folds and wrinkles, literally wearing a leg, it can be easily removed without cutting it with a knife. The height of the hat reaches five centimeters, and the width is up to 4 centimeters. Color depends on age: in young mushrooms, it is brown or chocolate, and in old - yellow-orange. In addition, the color depends on where the mushroom grows.
- Leg it is curved, has a smooth surface, its maximum length is 10 centimeters, and the thickness is only 2 centimeters. Often it is flattened on the sides. The young fungus has a whole leg, but as it ages, a cavity forms that expands. The leg with the cap is connected only at the base, and their contact is superficial. The leg has a cream or white color with visible scales, with age it acquires a dark shade.
- Pulp and spores. The flesh of the morels is white and thin, resembles cotton wool, has a pleasant mushroom aroma, and palatability is weak. Spores are smooth and elongated.
Where and when do morels grow?
This mushroom can be found on flooded soil with a temperate climate in the northern zone. These mushrooms grow on moist soil exclusively in spring. On dry ground, a morel cap will not survive; it will dry out and die. You can find this mushroom near:
- stream
- pond;
- ditches filled with water.
As for the forest, this kind of mushroom can be found in:
- birch;
- lime;
- aspen forests.
Most often they grow in large groups, individually they can not be met. Prevalence - from the North Caucasus to Karelia. In Russia, morel mushrooms are harvested in the same way as mushrooms or butter mushrooms; Russians love them.
Mushroom pickers should go to the forest for mushrooms and look for:
- linden;
- aspen;
- Birch
- poplar;
- alder tree.
It is near trees that have lived for at least 30 years that mushrooms grow, and near young trees are much less common.
As for the soil, they do not grow anywhere, but only sandy loam soils that are covered with leaves and black soil. During dry, cold weather and excessive moisture, the mushrooms die. In the northern parts, rotten mushroom can be seen very rarely.
Mushroom edibility
Raw mushroom can not be eaten, although it is considered edible. Many mushroom lovers eat morel caps, but this must be done with caution. Mushrooms should first be boiled for a long time, and then fry, bake or pickle. This should be done because in mushrooms, although not in large doses, it is present, but the poison that leaves and remains in the water when boiled. Over the entire cooking period, the water should change 3-4 times.
Varieties of Morel Hats
The morel cap has no varieties.
The composition and value of the product
In several countries, morel cap is considered an inedible fungus because it causes poisoning and allergies. But the experts of our countries argue that with proper preparation, the mushroom does not carry any danger, even more so - it is useful because it contains the following vitamins:
- AND;
- IN 1;
- AT 2;
- D;
- FROM.
And other useful substances:
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- calcium.
This type of mushroom appears first, in early spring, and immediately after winter, replenishing the body with useful substances is very useful.
The benefits and harms of the fungus
From any fungus, a person can receive both benefit and harm, we will figure out more. Benefit:
- the mushroom contains many vitamins and minerals;
- metabolism is accelerated;
- blood pressure stabilizes;
- the body's water balance is normalized;
- the inflammatory process is reduced (if any).
Now about the dangers:
- in morels, there is a minimal amount of poison, but if the mushroom is cooked before use, all the poison will remain in the water;
- morels should not be used for children under 14 years of age;
- although mushrooms have a milk-moving effect, it is better to completely abandon them during pregnancy and lactation;
- with reduced hemoglobin and poor blood coagulability, it is also better to forget about these mushrooms;
- individual intolerance is possible.
The pulp of the mushroom is rich in nutrients, in content it is similar to mushrooms of the highest category. After the mushroom has been properly processed, it is even considered a real delicacy.
What can I confuse with a morel cap?
Morel mushroom cap is somewhat similar to morels and lines, so you need to carefully inspect the mushroom and not mix it up.
You can distinguish them by the following criteria:
- in morels, a hat can be said to be simply put on a leg, and in morels, it is tightly attached;
- the morel cap is longer and the stalk is shorter, while the morel cap is vice versa;
- the color of morels is always darker than the morels.
As for the lines and the morel cap, they have the following difference:
- in the morel cap, the hat is elongated and not wide, and in the lines it is wide and short;
- the hat of stitches in some places, especially on top, grows together with the leg, and below it lags behind it, which cannot be said about the stitch hat;
- the taste of the lines is less pronounced and more tender than the line caps.
Nutritional use
The pulp of the mushroom is quite brittle, so it should be cleaned before cooking with care. The mushroom has a pleasant aroma, taste, and also has a delicate texture. Before you put out or fry the mushroom, it still does not hurt to first boil the mushroom for 15 minutes, and then cook the necessary dish.
How to grow a mushroom on your own?
First you need to choose a suitable place, it should be sunny, in an elevated area. Loamy or sandy loamy soil is best suited. To make it convenient to care for the mushrooms and collect them, they allocate a lot of space: 1.5 meters wide, and any length.
In order for the mushrooms to take root well, a clear sequence should be observed:
- On the surface lay small pieces of rotten apples.
- Then, right on the soil where the mushrooms will grow, they burn cardboard or paper and scatter ashes in all the beds.
- Then the earth is watered.
- The next step is to sprinkle with pre-prepared mycelium.
- Cover with a 5 centimeter layer of forest litter.
- Spruce spruce sprinkles from the very top (chopped straw is also suitable).
The care is as follows: constant moistening of the soil, and next spring the coating should be removed. Mushrooms crawl out of the ground the next spring after sowing. About 1 kilogram of mushrooms comes out from 1 square meter. As soon as the mushrooms have been harvested, the beds are again covered and moistened from time to time. Each year, the beds should be sprinkled with the same apples and burn paper or cardboard. If everything is done correctly, then mushrooms can bear fruit for about 5 years in a row.
Morel cap, although not attractive in appearance, but an edible mushroom, is in some ways even considered a delicacy. This type of mushroom can be grown at home, but for this you need to try and follow all the rules.
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Russia. Krasnodar city
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