There are few forests in the southeastern territory of Russia, but there are also mushroom spots in them. More than 150 types of mushrooms grow here, which are good for food. Mushrooms of the Saratov region in 2019 will delight those who like to "hunt" for them.
Mushrooms in the Saratov region
General description
All mushrooms of the Saratov region in 2019 are divided into edibility categories:
- Category 1: edible;
- Category 2: conditionally edible;
- Category 3: inedible;
- Category 4: poisonous.
Categories 1 and 2 are subdivided into 4 more flavors. The first 2 are considered the most fragrant, which include white and all their subspecies, mushrooms, milk mushrooms, volushkas, oak trees and champignons (meadow and field). They are most often used in haute cuisine for the preparation of exquisite dishes.
Chanterelles, mushrooms, morels and mushrooms belong to 3 species. They are less aromatic. Their taste is simpler, so they are more used for pickling, pates, etc.
The fourth type is conditionally edible mushrooms. It is not popular among culinary experts due to the complexity of its preparation and poor taste. Before cooking, these types should be soaked, rinsed and cooked for a long time. More often, such mushrooms (mossy mushrooms, dung beetles, lactarius, etc.) are salted or pickled.
Kinds
In total, there are about 2000 species in this area, of which 150 are considered edible, and the locals prefer to collect only 20.
Edible species
In forests, fruiting bodies of mushrooms appear with the onset of the first heat. Under the trees, on a pillow of last year's leaves or fallen needles, the following edible species are the very first to delight lovers of quiet hunting:
- morels;
- lines;
- champignons.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
When picking morels, carefully consider their "appearance":
- apothecia (fruiting bodies) they are large, at least 6-10 cm, fleshy, with a clearly visible clear delineation on the leg and cap;
- the shape of the cap is characteristic - ovoid or conical, with a network of folds (longitudinal and transverse), often oblique. These numerous folds form cells lined with hymenium (the layer where spores form), but the ribs separating them remain sterile;
- the edges of the cap grow together with the leg hollow inside.
By the way. For a long time, morels have been trying to domesticate and enter into industrial production, especially since they belong to saprophytes, like champignons. Numerous experiments have shown that successful cultivation requires selection of morel strains for yield.
A little later, in the summer, in June-July, their number increases, on the forest edges appear:
- boletus;
- loading;
- white;
- chanterelles;
- pigs.
And in August, in the most fruitful month, mushroom pickers bring home full baskets of russula, butter, podgruzdkov, milk mushrooms, beetles, whites, honey agarics and other forest delicacies. In September, autumn mushrooms are added to the summer types of mushrooms:
- mushrooms;
- valuey;
- aspen trees;
- rows;
- violins.
Under the fallen leaves, mushrooms, honey agarics, volushkas and whites are found until the very frost.
Poisonous species
Some mushrooms are best left untouched
Along with tasty and edible species, poisonous, unsuitable for food grow in the forests. After a small piece of the product enters the stomach, poisoning occurs, which threatens, at best, an upset stomach, fever, vomiting and, at worst, death. To avoid trouble, it is important to know firmly what such dangerous mushrooms look like and not touch them with your hands. These include:
- Satanic;
- champignon yellowing, or reddening;
- fly agaric toadstool;
- death cap;
- rowing a talker;
- lepiota;
- fiberglass.
Amanita muscaria, like red, is often confused with russula, because after rains, the white spots on the cap are washed out by water and they become invisible.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
Mushrooms of the genus Fiber, growing in the Saratov region, are very dangerous poisonous mushrooms. Their fruiting bodies contain the toxic alkaloid muscarine, first identified in the red fly agaric (hence its name). Some of the fiber species are hallucinogenic (magic) mushrooms containing the alkaloid and psychedelic psilocybin. The use of any of these mushrooms leads to the destruction of the personality and psyche of a person.
Gray toadstools are somewhat similar to mushrooms. These are the most poisonous mushrooms. The people called them "forest killer". The poison of these mushrooms can penetrate the human skin and enter the bloodstream even after accidental contact. Edible mushrooms growing nearby become poisonous if the caps touch the toadstool or their myceliums are arranged as if "intertwining" with each other.
The yellow-skinned peppermint is similar to the common champignon and most often grows in deciduous forests. This is a conditionally edible mushroom, its use will not lead to death, but will cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever. It has an unpleasant phenolic odor and color at the break of the pulp. It turns yellow after a few minutes in air.
Mushroom places
There are not many forests in the Saratov region, but there is a map of mushroom places.
The region is divided in half by the Volga. There are more forests on the right side. Honey mushrooms in autumn are more often found on the right bank of the river, in deciduous forests. They grow under birch, aspen, maple or linden trees.
- Engelsky district, near Tin-Zin lake: the territory is famous for boletus and mushrooms. You can get there by bus number 284D, which goes from the central bus station in the direction of Saratov-Engels.
- Saratov district, near the village of Popovka: there are many boletus and boletus in the woodlands. Less often black milk mushrooms come across.
- Bazarno-Karabulsky district: famous for boletus and boletus, which appear in early June and bear fruit until October. From the central bus station, the Saratov-Bazarny Karabulak bus departs daily on schedule, which will take you almost to the very place.
- Tyschevsky district, village Yagodnoye: here it is better to look for chanterelles and mushrooms. Not far from the village of Kamenka, in the same area, in a spruce forest, there are a lot of butter. Ozerkov has a lot of honey mushrooms, mushrooms and butter, which are not translated until the very frost.
- Krasnokutsk district, near the village of Dyakovka: There are large mushroom spots in the forest 150 km from the city.
- Baltaisky district, near Alekseevka: many boletus, autumn mushrooms and boletus boletus.
- Krasnoarmeisky district, Ivanteevka: this settlement is famous for saffron milk caps and milk mushrooms.
It is better to look in these places not in shady deaf thickets, but on elevated edges, near paths or old roads.
If the "hunt" goes for mushrooms, there are more of them in mixed forests, forest plantations, on stumps or diseased trees.
For mushrooms . Saratov region . I am learning to pick mushrooms.
Mushroom place, mushrooms in Saratov
Mushrooms. Many mushrooms, July 2019.
Conclusion
Certain knowledge and skills will help to collect a large and tasty harvest of forest mushrooms in the Saratov region. You can make preparations for the winter, pickles and marinades from them, dry or freeze - if only you have enough strength.