Tatarstan's geographic location creates a rich flora and fauna, fostering the development and growth of many mushroom species. Tatarstan is surrounded by taiga forests on one side and typical broadleaf forests on the other. Therefore, the republic boasts a rich diversity of mushrooms.
The list of all mushrooms in Tatarstan is quite long, numbering around 1,000 species. It's quite difficult to see photos and descriptions of each one, so we'll focus only on the most common edible and poisonous species.
Description and photos of edible mushrooms of Tatarstan
The most common edible mushrooms in Tatarstan are the following species:
- White mushrooms.
- Birch boletes.
- Aspen mushrooms.
- Saffron milk caps.
- Honey mushrooms.
- Boletus mushrooms.
- Butterlets.
- Milk mushrooms.
- Russula.
These species have high culinary value due to their taste and unique mushroom aroma.
Porcini mushrooms
Porcini mushrooms are very large. Despite their name, the cap may not always be whitish. It is most often soft brown, sometimes with hints of red. The shape of the cap depends on the age of the mushroom and can be either hemispherical or prostrate.
The stem is thick and irregularly cylindrical. It almost always has a light-colored veining. The flesh is light-colored and does not change color when broken. It emits a subtle mushroom aroma.
Boletus mushrooms
A distinctive feature of the birch bolete is its white, cylindrical stem, densely covered with black and white scales. The cap can come in a variety of shapes and colors. This explains the wide diversity of bolete species.
The flesh of mushrooms is whitish. It remains the same color when cut, with the exception of the Reddening Birch Bolete, whose white flesh turns pinkish when damaged.
You may be interested in:Aspen mushroom
This species is characterized by convex caps that easily separate from the stems. The cap's color varies depending on the species, typically being shades of red or brown. An exception is the rare White Aspen Boletus, which has a white fruiting body.
The stem is often curved and has an irregular cylindrical shape. Scales are densely distributed on the surface of the stem. The white flesh changes color due to damage.
You may be interested in:Chanterelles
Chanterelles These are orange mushrooms with characteristic dark spots and rings. Young specimens have convex caps with edges that curl inward. Mature mushrooms have funnel-shaped caps with a flattened edge. The stalks of saffron milk caps are smooth, slightly tapering toward the bottom. They almost always match the color of the cap or are slightly lighter.
You may be interested in:The stem has small indentations on its surface. The flesh is also orange. When broken, it turns green, releasing a large amount of milky juice. When exposed to air, the milky fluid also turns greenish and has a fruity scent.
Honey mushrooms
Honey mushrooms are small, convex caps that sit on thin, elongated stalks. As they mature, a small tubercle appears in the center of the cap, giving mature specimens a somewhat umbrella-like appearance.
You may be interested in:Honey mushrooms come in all shades of brown. In damp weather, the color darkens, and with exposure to sunlight, it becomes lighter. Some varieties have a ring or skirt on the stem. The flesh is very watery, with a pleasant taste and aroma.
Boletus mushrooms
Boletus mushrooms have rounded, often cushion-shaped caps with a dry, cracked surface. The surface texture can be smooth or velvety. The caps are attached to thick, fibrous stalks.
A distinctive feature of this species is the mesh pattern on the stem. The flesh is firm and turns blue when damaged. Due to the wide variety of species, boletus mushrooms range in color from white to dark brown.
Butterlets
A distinctive feature of this mushroom species is the moist surface of the fruiting body. In damp weather, it is sticky, and in clear weather, slippery. The caps of the mushrooms are convex. In older specimens, they become slightly flattened. The cap color depends on the species of butter mushroom.
You may be interested in:It can appear in shades of yellow, orange, and brown. The club-shaped stem often has a ring or remnants of a dark-colored veil. The stem is identical in color to the cap. The flesh is light-colored. When damaged, it can turn blue or red.
Milk mushrooms
Milk mushrooms are medium-sized mushrooms with flat caps that are concave in the center. Less commonly, they have a funnel-shaped cap. Depending on the species, the edges of the milk mushroom cap can be smooth or wavy.
You may be interested in:The coloring varies. The stem is cylindrical and closely matches the cap. The flesh is firm, grayish or creamy in color. The flesh exudes an indescribable fruity aroma.
Russula
Russula are small mushrooms with open caps on thick, smooth stems. The cap margins often have scars, stripes, or cracks. The fruiting body can come in a variety of colors. The flesh of russulas is very fragile.
Depending on the variety, it can be firm or spongy in texture. Young fruits have white flesh, but as they mature, it begins to acquire a brown, reddish, or tan hue.
You may be interested in:Inedible types of mushrooms
Tatarstan's abundant mushrooms include many inedible and poisonous species. The most dangerous are the Galerina Marginata and the Death Cap. The treacherous nature of these mushrooms lies in their easy confusion with edible species, which themselves are considered deadly. For example, the Galerina can be mistaken for an edible honey fungus, and the Death Cap for a green russula.
You may be interested in:Galerina marginata is a small mushroom with a brown or yellow-brown cap. Beneath the cap are gills of the same color, from which a spore powder, reminiscent of rust, spills. The cap's shape depends on the mushroom's age: in young specimens, it is convex, while in older specimens, it is flattened. A distinctive feature of this species is the presence of a membranous ring on the stem. However, as the mushroom matures, this ring disappears.
The death cap is a fairly large mushroom, greenish-olive or gray in color. Depending on its age, the cap can be hemispherical or flattened.
Distinguishing features of this species include a moiré pattern on the stem and a clearly visible volva, often half buried in the soil. These mushrooms lack a distinct taste or odor, and the white flesh does not change color when broken, as is the case with many similar mushrooms.
Where to look for mushrooms in the forests of Tatarstan?
Tatarstan has a significant number of forests, and each one is rich in mushrooms. However, not all forests are suitable for mushroom picking. It's unsafe to pick mushrooms in forests located within city limits. Mushrooms tend to absorb and accumulate heavy metals. Therefore, mushroom picking should be done in areas as far away as possible from industrial facilities, railways, busy highways, and large cities.
The following places in Tatarstan are considered suitable for quiet hunting:
- forests along the outskirts of Lake Lebyazhye;
- forest areas in the vicinity of the village of Borovoe Matyushino;
- Krasnooktyabrskoye forestry;
- Vasilievsky forestry;
- forest-type plantings near Makarovka;
- Aishinsky forestry;
- forest area near Vysokaya Mountain.
Mushrooms are quite selective when it comes to their habitat. Birch stands are home to many birch boletes, aspen boletes, and white boletes. If pine trees grow between the birch trees, you can find chanterelles, butter mushrooms, and saffron milk caps. Milk mushrooms are also common in aspen stands.
Mushroom pickers should also consider the weather, which is a significant factor influencing mushroom yield. Abundant rainfall increases the productivity of mushroom spawn.
Each mushroom species has its own unique fruiting habits. For example, honey mushrooms are harvested in the fall, birch boletes appear in June, and morels can only be found in the spring. Low-lying areas always produce significantly more fruit, as these areas retain moisture longer.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Thanks to its favorable geographic location, the lands of the Republic of Tatarstan are very rich in mushrooms. However, mushroom harvesting is only possible in certain forest stands in the region.
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