Classification and types of ceps
The porcini mushroom belongs to the genus of boletus and we can safely assume that this is its middle name. It belongs to the Fleet family. With this famous mushroom, you can cook a huge number of delicious dishes: soups, sauces, salads and use as a filling for pies. However, in order for health to remain in order, one must learn to identify them. In the world there are many types of mushrooms that differ from each other in appearance, taste, place of growth. But mushrooms: royal, spruce, pine, birch and oak, occupy a leading position among all and are the most popular and delicious.
general description
Ceps, botanically classified as Boletus edibus, are a popular wild edible variety that is a member of the Boletaceae family. They grow individually or in small clusters in the forests at the base of pine, fir, chestnut, oak and spruce. They are classified as mycorrhizal fungi, which form a mutual symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees.
Types of porcini mushrooms
The information that is published in this article will help to find the edible mushroom. With the help of a description and a photo, it will be possible to recognize varieties of ceps and confidently choose the desired species, knowing where it grows and distinguishing its features.
Also read our electronic magazine about growing mushrooms at home.
Dense flesh, excellent taste, the possibilities of different cooking methods distinguish boletus from other brothers. But still the main feature is color.
Boletus edulis pine (Boletus pinophilus)
This look has a brown-chocolate hat, which can change its tone to dark purple with light veins on the sides. Diameter 25 cm, has smooth skin, which becomes slippery in rainy weather, and in the sunny it looks matte or glossy. The leg is in the form of a tuber with a brown surface. Its height is approximately 15-16 cm. The cream or yellow shade has a tubular layer, and only later it acquires a green color.
Did you know? Psychoactive mushrooms are commonly called "magic mushrooms." They have a psychotropic effect, since most contain a psychoactive ingredient called psilocybin.
Boletus Oak (Boletus reticulatus)
The hat has the shape of a hemisphere, its height can be 23–25 cm. It has a brown color with a mouse tint with drops of light or gray color and a smooth surface. The leg is covered with a cream mesh, quite long, about 21 cm, has a thickening at the base. In a whitish dense, slightly spongy pulp, mushroom aroma is not as pronounced as in other varieties, while the taste remains sweetish-mushroom. The tubular gimenophore is white in color with olive-brown spores.
Did you know? 90% of the mushrooms that we eat belong to the white button mushroom variety. It has the mildest taste among all types of mushrooms.
White birch mushroom (Boletus betulicola)
White birch fungus grows on all soils, but on acid peat bogs or birch-aspen forests it is definitely not to be found. Most often lives alone, less often happens to meet a whole family. Collecting can begin in July and finish at the end of October. The variety differs from most of its counterparts by a thin leg and a smooth hat. This species has a small size up to 14 cm.
Read also about how to store porcini mushrooms.
Features and classification:
- the mushroom at a more mature age looks squat and not very attractive, and at the beginning of its growth it looks very beautiful;
- has a very bright taste and smell;
- the leg at the base is quite large in volume (resembles a keg), but as it grows it becomes much higher (up to 12 cm) and thinner (2-4 cm);
- the cap of an adult mushroom is almost white, can be wrapped up;
- the pulp is dense, fragrant, white. The cut location remains white;
- tubular layer of white or light yellow color;
- spore powder is brown.
Porcini mushroom (Boletus edulis)
Spruce porcini mushroom is most often found in a dense spruce. He likes a temperate climate. It may appear after fog or rain. You can also find it in an ordinary park, in which spruces or other conifers grow. You can collect from the beginning of July and finish around October. The largest collection period falls in September. At different stages of growth, the hat can reach both the smallest sizes - 5 cm, and large - 40 cm.
Important! To avoid administration, you need to eat any mushroom product dosed: 150 g / 2 p. in weeks
In the rain, it can crack and become covered with mucus. It always has a white to dark brown shade with the addition of yellow, red or white blotches. The leg can grow up to 25-26 cm and be in girth up to 5 cm. The pulp is dense, strong. A young specimen is white, an adult appears yellow.
Useful properties of porcini mushrooms
The composition of mushrooms contains a large amount of beta-glucan. Its benefit lies in the fact that it strengthens the immune system, protects against bacteria and fungi. Doctors recommend using porcini mushrooms to people who have problems with anemia and atherosclerosis.
Find out how long the porcini mushroom grows.
Also, their use reduces the development and appearance of cancer due to the presence of polysaccharides and sulfur. Whites contain the body’s essentials: vitamins C, A, B groups, fiber, Ca (calcium), Se (selenium), riboflavin and many antioxidants.
Inedible Doubles
Visually distinguishing a dangerous mushroom specimen from an edible one is almost impossible. There are not so many inedible boletus, but such as gall or Satanic, as well as their varieties, nevertheless exist. A characteristic feature of the bile fungus is that it is not suitable for food because of the bitter pulp, the bitterness of which increases during cooking. Gorchak has a hat up to 10 cm, whitish thick pulp, turns pink when broken. There is no distinct mushroom aroma.
Important! Fans of quiet hiking in the forest, in the absence of skills and knowledge about the varieties of forest gifts, should not independently collect mushrooms in order not to get poisoning.
Satanic appearance:
- Title - Boletus satanas.
- The hat can reach 25 cm. It has a gray or olive tint.
- The pulp is white or yellow, shows a blue color on the cut.
Everyone should know what symptoms may appear when poisoning and overeating a mushroom product.
Symptoms of poisoning:
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- body cramp;
- severe headaches;
- weakness in the body;
- mood swings or hallucinations.
You will be interested to know how to make delicious soup puree from porcini mushrooms.
They can be combined in dishes with cheeses, meat, fish, tomatoes, garlic and onions. Serve with rice and noodles. White will be stored up to 3 days fresh in a paper bag in the refrigerator, up to 6 months. Dried in an airtight container.