Content
A small-sized mushroom called black and white melanoleuca belongs to the family of Rows. Also known as common melanoleum or related melanoleuc.
What melanoleuks black and white look like
This copy is presented in the form of a cap and a leg with the following characteristics:
- The cap is convex, the size of which reaches up to 10 cm in diameter. With age, it becomes prostrate with a darker tubercle in the center. The surface of the cap is dry, smooth, matte with slightly drooping edges. Painted in dark gray or brown shades, in dry summers, the skin burns out and takes on a pale brown tone.
- The plates are narrow, frequent, adherent to the pedicle, widened in the middle. Initially painted white, a little later they turn light brown.
- The leg is round and thin, it reaches about 7 cm in length, and the width is about 1 cm in diameter. Slightly widened at the base, dense, longitudinally ribbed and fibrous. Its surface is dry, colored in brown shades with longitudinal black fibers.
- The spores are rough, ovate-ellipsoid. The spore powder is pale yellowish.
- The flesh is loose and soft, at a young age it has a light gray color, and at a mature age it is brown. It emits a subtle spicy aroma.
Where black and white melanoleuks grow
Most often, this species grows in mixed and deciduous forests. It can also occasionally be found in gardens, parks and roadside. The optimal time for fruiting is from May to October. It grows both one at a time and joining in small groups.
Is it possible to eat melanoleuks black and white
There is varied and contradictory information about the edibility of black and white melanoleuca. So, some experts classify this species as edible mushrooms, while others consider this specimen conditionally edible. However, their opinion agrees that black and white melanoleuca is not poisonous and can be used for food only after preliminary heat treatment.
False doubles
Melanoleuca black and white has external similarities with some relatives of the Ryadovkovye family.
- Melanoleuca striped - refers to conditionally edible mushrooms. The fruit body is colored gray-brown or reddish. At a young age, the flesh is whitish or gray, in mature it acquires a brown tint.
- Melanoleuca warty - an edible mushroom. The hat is fleshy, colored in yellow-brown tones. A distinctive feature is the cylindrical stem, the surface of which is covered with warts.
- Melanoleuca short-legged - the shape of the cap is similar to the species under consideration, but the double has a much shorter leg, which is only 3-6 cm. It is edible.
Collection rules
When collecting black and white melanoleuca, it is advisable to be guided by the following rules:
- The best containers for mushrooms are wicker baskets, which will allow the gifts of the forest to "breathe". Plastic bags are definitely not suitable for such purposes.
- Do not collect old, rotten and damaged specimens.
- It is recommended to cut the mushroom with a knife, but it is allowed to carefully remove it from the soil without damaging the mycelium.
Use
This specimen is suitable for all types of processing: it is stewed, salted, dried, fried and pickled. However, before proceeding directly to cooking, black and white melanoleuca should be processed. To do this, each copy must be washed, the legs removed, then cooked for at least 15 minutes, after which you can proceed to further cooking the dish.
Conclusion
Melanoleuca black and white is a rather rare species. It is found not only in mixed and deciduous forests, but also in parks, gardens and along roads. Prefers to grow one at a time, but sometimes tends to form small groups. This species is classified as an edible mushroom of the lowest category. It has a sweet, mealy taste and a pleasant aroma.
