Collecting tinder fungi
Tinder fungi, or as they are called by experts - tinder fungi, a non-systematic group that includes species of fungi that are similar in type of nutrition, lifestyle, features of external structure and reproduction, but belonging to different taxonomic units of the Basidiomycete department. For example, the well-known chaga mushroom belongs to this group. Found on the bark of deciduous trees.
Collecting tinder fungi
The appearance of the mushroom
The tinder fungus reaches 1.6 m in diameter and weighs 5-6 kg. The fruiting body of the tinder fungus, aging, is transformed into a keratinized formation, which in structure resembles a tree bark. Outwardly, the organism of the fungus resembles hoof-like processes.
The tinder fungus more often settles on deciduous trees, less often it parasitizes on conifers: the resin found in the resin passages of the wood of representatives of the Gymnosperms department (conifers) destructively affects the formation of mycelium.
The types of tinder fungus are similar in shape. The fruit body is saucer-shaped, bent down, but it can be leveled. The color palette is varied, ranging from gray to cinnabar red. It settles singly, however, there are species that parasitize in whole groups. Spores quickly spread to nearby trees.
Description of the tinder fungus:
- tubular hymenophore;
- the mycelium of the fungus affects the bark and cambium of the tree, less often the root system;
- lifestyle - parasitic;
- tinder fungus has white flesh;
- spore reproduction.
In representatives of tinder fungus with a leg, it is usually dense. The height of the leg is 4-12 cm. The mycelium of the fungus penetrates into the cellular layers of the bark, cambium and tree roots. The interaction of spores with the inner layers of the bark harms plants. Very rare species are capable of settling on the soil.
Mushroom species
Types of tinder fungus:
- tinder fungus, oak, red;
- tinder fungus changeable, humpbacked;
- deciduous tinder fungus (larch);
- sheep tinder fungus, tuberous - grow on a leg, soil is used as a substrate;
- branched tinder fungus, coconut poria;
- winter tinder fungus;
- tinder fungus harsh-haired;
- tinder fungus real beveled (oblique tubular);
- fox tinder fungus (orange);
- bordered tinder fungus (pine).
The species of tinder fungus infecting the roots of trees was named "seamstress". In the forests of the Russian Federation, the following types are widespread: bumpy, oak, black, brown, scaly, gartig, agaricus.
Tinder fungus is an edible mushroom. Some varieties are considered inedible, because their taste is much inferior to other mushrooms. In general, they are almost not dangerous.
Poisonous Polypore Mushrooms - False and volatile.
Tinder fungus is considered an edible mushroom.
The fruit body is distinguished by an unusual structure. It tolerates winter cold, summer heat, high humidity. Perennial eukaryotes belonging to the kingdom of fungi destroy wood in the course of their life. Spores penetrate into damaged wood and begin to multiply actively, forming mycelium.The tubular hymenophore is a spore-bearing layer - a place where spores are formed, as in fungi that are familiar to us.
Hyphae penetrate into the deep layers of the bark and, releasing enzymes, dissolve even the most durable cell membranes that feed on the fruit body. Under the action of enzymes, a red and brown putrefactive solution is formed. Thin hyphae are transformed into thick skeletal hyphae. Saprophytes use wood as a substrate.
The shape of the fruiting body is distinguished by:
- sedentary: attached to a tree on one side, may have a side leg;
- prostrate: "Cakes" adherent to wood: black or brown, depending on the shade of the bark;
- growing on a stalk;
- having a hat and a leg: chestnut tinder fungus, i.e. changeable.
Beneficial features
The medicinal properties of tinder fungus began to be used for a long time. Examples of its use are found in the medical literature of Ancient Greece and China. A tinder fungus is an organism that contains a mass of resinous substances, polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals. Young fruit bodies harvested in the month of May are especially beneficial.
The features of the medicinal tinder fungus are hemostatic, antimicrobial action. Agaric acid promotes the elimination of toxins accumulated in the body, cleanses the body of toxins and cholesterol plaques. Lanophil polysaccharides allow you to gently cleanse the liver, improve blood circulation.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
In Japan, clinical studies were conducted on the effects of larch tinder fungus on the human body. They made it possible to isolate polysaccharides, which later received the name "lanophil". This polysaccharide has the ability to affect our liver so that under its influence it begins to secrete the enzymes necessary for the breakdown of glucose and fats, i.e. normal metabolism is restored.
By settling on trees, the parasite destroys them. Despite this, it is classified as a sanitary species that cleanse the forest of old trees, which makes it possible for the young to fully develop. Its importance in agricultural activities is invaluable. The parasite produces a large number of living bacteria, under the influence of which old trees quickly rot and turn into natural fertilizer. However, it is important to ensure that the tinder fungus does not spread.
In a garden, the appearance of fungi on trees is prevented by following elementary agrotechnical rules. If you do not take preventive measures on time, but simply remove the mushrooms from the bark, they grow every year and, like a sponge, absorb useful substances from the vessels and sieve cells of wood. As a result, the tree will have to be uprooted.
Contraindications
Taking medications based on polypore mushrooms can cause a serious allergic reaction, so be sure to take precautions. An improperly cooked young tinder fungus causes poisoning. It is edible, but pregnancy, lactation is a contraindication to treatment with tinder fungi. Children are not treated with medicines from tinder fungi at all.
Treatment should be abandoned if there is a history of urolithiasis, gallbladder dysfunction. For diarrhea, deciduous tinder fungus is not used: it has a laxative effect.
Applications
The mushroom is used in cosmetology
There are several areas of application of tinder fungi: cooking, cosmetology, medicine. For each of them, only a certain variety is suitable.
Ciliated, smoky, cedar and pink polypores are commonly used in cosmetology. They are used to produce rejuvenation products. Agaric acid destroys hay bacillus. Certain types are used in cooking.They are actively researching the production of drugs that can save people from AIDS.
In cooking
In cooking, they use tinder fungus: umbrella, maple, sheep, scaly, real (ordinary). Mushrooms do not taste good, so they are of dubious success in cooking. Only young specimens are suitable for food. Tinder fungi are usually pickled, dried and salted.
You should pick mushrooms away from highways. They, like a sponge, absorb toxins from the external environment. Mushrooms that live on the bark of living plants are of great benefit.
In medicine
The most useful is larch tinder fungus. The scope of application is the treatment of obesity. Nutritionists prescribe a slimming drug based on it for patients with impaired metabolism. It is also useful for constipation, dysbiosis.
Birch and aspen tinder fungi are similar in composition to larch. They have analgesic properties, stimulate regeneration at the cellular level. A medicinal mushroom is used to combat various pathologies of internal organs. Tinder is used in the countries of the East for the treatment of impotence and cancer.
Doctors warn about the dangers of self-treatment. Before taking drugs based on tinder fungus, it is necessary to consult with your doctor and select the appropriate variety for treatment. When buying a drug, be sure to carefully read the instructions, take into account possible side effects.
The most useful are mushrooms, the place of growth of which is birch and aspen. They prevent the development of blood poisoning, improve the state of the nervous system, and help bring down the temperature. A medicinal preparation based on the chaga mushroom called "Befungin" is sold in pharmacies. Some mushroom pickers make medicines from chaga on their own.
The mushroom must be carefully collected by cutting it off with a sharp knife from the tree. Then it is dried in the sun, crushed into powder. For 5 g of powder raw materials take 150 ml of alcohol. The tincture is used in the treatment of diseases of the ENT organs, as a dietary supplement. A eukaryote-based ointment is made by mixing the powder with vegetable oil.
Deciduous medicinal tinder fungus acts as a natural sorbent. The use of drugs based on it allows you to prevent the development of infection in the body. Ointments are used to restore wound surfaces. Representatives of the species grow on deciduous trees, which is what the name says.
A multi-colored flat tinder fungus, merging with the bark of a tree, is harvested in May. Raw materials are carefully dried, crushed and used as a hemostatic agent. The tincture helps in the treatment of immunodeficiency (not AIDS!). When collecting a medicinal mushroom, it is better to use a special determinant of toxicity.
Growing methods
To grow a tinder fungus at home, it is imperative to study the peculiarities of its relationship with the substrate, in contrast to other mushrooms.
Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
To date, growing tinder fungus in artificial conditions "from scratch" is exotic. The problem is that the mycelium must be grown in test tubes with a certain nutrient medium with its further incubation, and this is far from accessible to every amateur mushroom grower and requires not only great costs, but also patience, and, in a sense, good luck.
However, there are methods of growing already with an existing mycelium.
Parasitism is characteristic of tinder fungi. The substrate is made from sawdust, shavings and young branches. It is poured with boiling water and cooled to room temperature.
Take flat white mycelium of the mushroom and mix thoroughly with the soil mixture. The mass is neatly folded into polyethylene bags, small cuts are made in them on the side in a checkerboard pattern, and then placed in conditions of high humidity (80%) and a natural change of lighting. As soon as the first crop appears, it is harvested and used for its intended purpose.
Dry hemp or wood blocks are well suited for growing. After making a deep cut in the trunk, the white mycelium is placed in it. The fungus will grow faster in higher humidity. After 4 months, a generation of mushrooms appears, which is harvested to get a new one.
Conclusion
The kingdom of mushrooms includes different species that are similar in some external characteristics and this makes it possible to combine them into non-systematic groups, as happened with tinder fungi. One of the most beneficial among them is chaga. Tinder fungi grow on trees and their roots.
The useful properties of tinder fungi make it possible to use extracts from them as medicines for the treatment of many diseases. People are allowed to take tinctures based on the extract, subject to a preliminary examination and consultation with a specialist.
