Mushroom hunting without consequences: differences between real and false valuya

The russula mushroom has several lookalikes. When it first emerges from the ground, it's often mistaken for a russula, a birch bolete, or a boletus. But it's far more dangerous to pick the poisonous false russulas or fly agarics instead of this relatively edible mushroom. Eating them, even after prolonged soaking and cooking, results in poisoning. True russulas can be distinguished by several characteristic features.

Description of the Valuy

The Valui is a lamellar mushroom belonging to the Strophariaceae family. Many consider it inedible due to its bitter flesh. However, after prolonged processing, it becomes quite edible. It is also known as a fist, a bull, or a snotty mushroom. Ripening occurs in the second half of summer and early fall. Valui grow in scattered patches in deciduous and coniferous forests under the shade of trees. They are not fussy about soil composition but are more common in damp areas.

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Description of the Valuy:

1. The cap, reaching 15 cm in diameter, is curved or straight with ribbed edges. It is covered in mucus, which dries in hot weather. The cap is ochre in color with a brownish or yellowish tint.
2. The gills of young specimens are cream-colored, but as they mature, the hue changes to yellow. Sap oozes from the gills when damaged.
3. Mature mushrooms have darker flesh. In rainy weather, it develops an unpleasant damp smell and a bitter taste.
4. Young russulas have a dense, cream-colored stem, resembling a barrel. As they age, cavities form within the stem, filling with softer tissue. The hue changes to a brownish-yellow. The stem reaches 12 cm in height.

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Valuya's doubles

When picking mushrooms, it's important to know the difference between edible and poisonous varieties. The russula has dangerous lookalikes. Eating them, even after prolonged cooking and soaking, can result in poisoning. Hebelomas and straw-colored fly agarics are particularly dangerous.

Hebeloma adhesive

This mushroom is also known as the false russula. Its neat cap grows from 3 to 10 cm in diameter. It is yellowish-brown, but the center is much darker. When young, the cap is convex, resembling a pillow. Later, it flattens with a wide tubercle and folded edges. Initially, the cap's surface is coated with mucus. With age, it dries out.

The cylindrical stem is 1-2 cm in diameter and grows up to 10 cm in length. In young mushrooms, it is white, but later the color changes to yellowish or brown. In older mushrooms, the stem has a noticeable thickening at the bottom. It is hollow inside and covered with scales on the outside.

The underside of the cap is covered with gills. Their hue matches the stem's, ranging from whitish to yellow or brown. The gills have small indentations. In damp weather, drops of brown liquid collect on them. The flesh of young hebelomas is white, but with age it takes on a yellowish tint. It forms a thick layer with a loose consistency. When broken, a hebeloma emits a pungent, radish-like odor and has a bitter taste.

This mushroom is highly poisonous. It causes digestive problems. Victims complain of vomiting, nausea, flatulence, and painful intestinal colic. Severe poisoning can cause weakness, headache, and tingling in the fingertips. Hebeloma poisoning requires immediate medical attention.

Straw-yellow fly agaric

This mushroom has a small, light yellow or brownish cap with a convex surface, reaching 12 cm in diameter. In mature specimens, the cap is flattened and covered with light-colored warts or dots. The fly agaric grows on a cream-colored stem up to 15 cm tall. The stem has a tuberous thickening on the underside and a weakly developed cuff consisting of thin films.

The closely spaced gills are creamy, sometimes yellowish. The loose flesh of this fly agaric species is tasteless and emits a faint radish-like aroma. It grows in coniferous forests on sandy soil. They ripen from June to August.

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After eating fly agaric, symptoms of poisoning appear only after two days. Victims complain of dizziness and hallucinations. They also develop digestive problems. Patients require immediate medical attention.

Valui mushrooms resemble some edible and poisonous mushrooms. They grow in deciduous and coniferous forests in damp areas shaded by trees. They are eaten only after long soaking and canning to remove their bitterness.