Mushrooms, called chicken coops, growing in forest thickets, are very tasty and healthy. But due to their external resemblance to grebes, not everyone, even an experienced mushroom picker, can for certain recognize this species. Description of the chicken coop or umbrella blushing, how to grow it and cook at home, read on.

Mushroom description

This species belongs to the family Champignon, Agaric order. Its cap reaches a diameter of up to 20 cm. First, it has a spherical or rounded shape, and as the mushroom grows, the hat opens and becomes flatter, turning into an umbrella. Its edges can be turned inward, corrugated with small cracks. Color ranges from beige to dark brown. The entire surface of the cap is covered with flakes that are arranged in a circle.

Did you know? Some mushrooms may contain hallucinogenic substances. The Vikings used this property of the plant in order to be more courageous in battle.

The hat is soft, delicate in taste. In its raw form, it exudes a pronounced mushroom aroma, which indicates its edibility. At the cut, the flesh begins to turn red.

The chicken coop has a long leg, which can grow up to 25 cm above the ground. Its diameter is about 2 cm, the shape is cylindrical, with a slightly narrowed top. It is fibrous, stiff, if cut, the fibers are red or brown, as is the case with the apex. In the upper part of the stalk, as the fungus grows, there remains a velum or coverlet - the remains of the shell that protected the plant at a young age. This ring is thin, in the upper part is white, and from the bottom is brown.

What does it look like

The young mushroom has a rounded cap that fits snugly on the leg. As it grows, the upper part opens and resembles an umbrella, hence the name "Umbrella blushing". In the photo of adult chicken coop mushrooms, one can clearly see the rounded shape of their hats with frequent plates that are closely pressed to the leg. In the center of the apex there is a pronounced brown spot from which smaller spots of the same shade diverge to the sides.

Where is growing

This variety grows in glades and forest edges. Often a chicken coop can be found in gardens and parks. The reddening umbrella is common in temperate climates - in Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, and also in Asian countries.Umbrellas are characterized by fruiting in groups and the formation of so-called “witch circles”. A blushing umbrella rarely grows alone.

Edible or not

The chicken coop is an edible variety of mushroom, although its appearance is very similar to a grebe. For cooking use hats. They are soft and tasteful. The legs have a rigid structure. Therefore, they are not used in cooking.

Varieties and doubles

Thanks to phylogenetic analysis, scientists have found that the closest relative of this species is lead-slag chlorophyllum, which also belongs to the Champignon family. It differs in the appearance of the cap, which has a smooth surface and a more thinned leg.

Another member of the family is girl's umbrella. It differs from blushing in a lighter color.

Important! A girl’s umbrella is listed in the Red Book of Russia and Belarus. Therefore, in many regions its collection is prohibited.

Chlorophyllum dark brown also belongs to the Agarikovs. Its external structure is distinguished by the presence of a rounded thickening on the lower part of the leg.

Motley umbrella

The motley umbrella is one of the edible species that is often confused with the chicken coop.. It is distinguished by a larger tip, which in diameter reaches up to 35 cm. The scales located on the hat of this variety are easily detached, their shade is brown. The pulp is coarser than that of a chicken coop. When deformed, it does not change color.

Mushroom counterparts

Among the many varieties of mushrooms, umbrellas exist and poisonous. Mushroom picker can easily confuse them with edible and get severe poisoning.

Poisonous varieties:

1. Comb has a more closed tip, which reaches up to 4 cm in diameter. Color - beige, with brown spots on the hat.
2. Leopita chestnut differs in a small hat (up to 5 cm). At the beginning of growth, it has the shape of a bell, and in a more mature one, it fully opens.

Growing

To grow a chicken coop in his country house, it is best to use spore reproduction. This will require:

1. On the selected site for landing, remove a layer of soil 25 cm thick.
2. Collect about 20-30 mushrooms and pick hats from them.
3. Cut the tops into small pieces and soak in rain water (if one is not available, you can use water from the well, which is defended for two days).
4. After a day, the mushrooms are kneading with hands or a wooden mortar until a homogeneous gruel is obtained.
5. Strain the suspension through a sieve.
6. Pour the resulting solution evenly over the prepared plot of land.
7. Sprinkle mushroom gruel on top.
8. Fill the "landing" with soil and pour water.

Did you know? In 1960, mushrooms were assigned to the same kingdom, a separate kingdom, because in the course of lengthy disputes, scientists were never able to classify them as either plants or animals.

Mushroom benefits

Due to the high content of the B vitamins in the fungus helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, improve myocardial function. The presence of ascorbic acid has a beneficial effect on the immune system and increases the body's resistance to colds.

Eating mushroom dishes helps lower blood sugar. This product is low in calories and contains a large amount of protein. Therefore it can be include in the diet for weight loss and muscle gain.

The vitamins E and K in the chemical composition regulate metabolic processes and help lower blood cholesterol.

Cooking Application

Shaggy umbrella is widely used in cooking. The easiest way to cook is to boil mushrooms (about 30 minutes) with onions. Then put them in a pan and fry until golden brown. Serve with potatoes and other vegetables.

This plant product can be added to broths, pickled and cooked in a soup puree. It is combined with pork and chicken meat.

Medical use

Dried and powdered mushrooms are used as a local antiseptic. They can treat purulent wounds. Only 2 g of the drug applied to the wound, after 2 days will eliminate the abundant allocation of the uterus and relieve swelling at the site of inflammation.In folk medicine, a decoction of 100 g of dried mushrooms in 2 liters of water is used for rheumatism. 20 ml of the drug (single dose), drunk in the morning and evening for 5 days, will help cope with back pain.

Mushroom danger

Despite the benefits that the human body receives from eating mushrooms, there are contraindications to their use. The product is strictly forbidden to eat in children under 12 years old, because the digestive system can not cope with the coarse fibers of the mushrooms, which will lead to intoxication of the body. For the same reason, dishes with the addition of the chicken coop should not be eaten during the period of gestation. Mushrooms can provoke constipation or an attack of nausea, which will adversely affect the health of mother and baby.

Important! If symptoms appear after eating a mushroom dish — dizziness, vomiting, darkening in the eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Even edible mushrooms can be dangerous, because they are allergens.. Their use can cause anaphylactic shock or an asthma attack. A plant product is prohibited for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as pathologies of the kidneys and liver.

Coop (reddening umbrella) is a delicious mushroom that grows in forests and glades. But fans of quiet hunting should be extremely careful when collecting them, because there are poisonous counterparts of this variety, which are easily confused with edible.