Hedgehog comb has many names. In England, it is better known as the lion's mane, in France - Pom-Pom (Pom-Pom blanc), in Japan - yamabushitake (yamabushitake), in China - houtougu. We have this mushroom grandfather's beard, mushroom noodles, monkey beard, bearded tooth. In scientific publications, it is most often referred to as Hericium comb.

Meet the lion's mane in wild nature it is possible on the territory of the Amur Region, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories, the foothills of the Crimea and the Caucasus. Grows on fallen and diseased trunks of birch, beech, oak from the first decade of August to last decade September. As a rule, the fruiting body appears in places where the bark leaves.

The fruit body of one mushroom can reach 18-20 cm and weigh 1.2-1.6 kg. The color varies from light cream to light beige. The flesh is whitish in color, rather fleshy, turning yellow when dried. Hanging thin needles form a geminophore. The taste is pleasant, reminiscent of shrimp meat.

Hericium erinaceus is recognized as an edible mushroom with great medicinal potential. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on it, drugs are made that help fight chronic gastritis, stomach cancer, and leukemia. Unique property recovery nerve cells in the brain makes lion's mane successful in the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, senile sclerosis. The constant use of yamabushitake cures (prevents) gastritis, including chronic.

The lion's mane is quite rare in nature. Price wild mushroom ranges from 500 to 3000 euros, so in the wild it is followed by a real silent hunting(especially in Primorsky Krai by the Chinese comrades). It is quite widely cultivated artificially in China and France, but the medicinal value and cost of artificially grown mushrooms are much lower than those of the "savages". In Russia in Lately also learned how to grow mushroom noodles. Growing does not require any special difficulties, and mycelium can be easily bought in numerous online stores.

Photos of lion's mane (lion's mane)

The bearded mushroom is able to surprise everyone who saw it for the first time. It's funny, but only a few will be able to recognize in him an inhabitant of the mushroom kingdom. The reason for this is his appearance. Looking at the bearded man at close range, you will rather decide that you have a fabulous animal in front of you than a motionless one. However, this is really a mushroom, however, with many oddities and surprises.

general information

The bearded mushroom, or combed hedgehog, is a unique representative of the Hericium family, the Russula order. His main feature lies in unusual appearance, which is not typical for mushrooms of this order. It was she who served as the reason for such colorful folk names as "bearded mushroom", "lion's mane", "grandfather's beard", "noodle mushroom" and "Pom-Pom mushroom". Scientists call it the combed urchin, or Hericium erinaceus.

Spreading

This is a very rare mushroom - its numbers are rapidly falling every year. The reason for this is pollution environment, massive deforestation and unreasonable collection by the people. To date, combed urchin is on the verge of extinction, and therefore it is listed in the Red Book.

IN natural environment mushroom can be found on the territory North America, Russia and China. In particular, he prefers zones with moderate, warm climate. For example, if we talk about our Motherland, then the "lion's head" can be seen in the Primorsky Territory, the Amur Region, the Crimea, as well as in the deciduous forests of Khabarovsk.

Appearance

For those who want to understand what a bearded mushroom looks like, photo - the best option. After all, without it it is quite difficult to recreate a verbal image, even remotely resembling the amazing appearance of a mushroom. And yet, if you decide to do this, it is best to imagine a white hedgehog or a mountain of vermicelli attached to a tree trunk. Agree, the picture is rather unusual.

If we talk about size, then the crested hedgehog grows on average up to 20-25 cm in diameter. At the same time, its white processes - “needles” can reach 6-8 cm in length. Such a miracle weighs about 1-1.5 kg, which is very impressive. However, such standards apply only to wild-growing specimens - a bearded mushroom bred on a farm can have much big sizes and weight.

The body of the combed urchin is dense. Inside the pulp is colored white or cream, without any impurities. And only at the end of its life, when the fungus begins to dry out, it acquires yellow tones.

habitat

Today, it is possible to meet the combed urchin only in remote regions. It does not tolerate any air pollution, and therefore rarely grows in roadside areas. This means that everyone who wants to find him must get used to the idea that the hunt can drag on for several days. True, many are ready to make such a sacrifice, just to see live how the bearded mushroom grows. The photo of this handsome man is a truly glorious award, proving the perseverance and perseverance of any naturalist.

So, where to look for it? Best fit deciduous forests located away from the city and major highways. In this case, you should look for areas with high humidity, as the hedgehog does not tolerate drought. For example, you can search the area around ponds, rivers, lakes, or swamps.

As for trees, in our region most often the bearded mushroom grows on oak, beech or birch, and he likes the latter the most. "Lion's head" is illegible in wood, and therefore can germinate both on a healthy trunk and on a rotten one. Most often, only one mushroom lives on a tree, but there are exceptions.

gourmet dish

Mushroom noodles are very popular in the culinary world. The reason for everything is its extraordinary shape and excellent taste. Some gourmets claim that the pulp of the mushroom tastes somewhat like shrimp. Agree, many will like such a delicacy, especially considering the fact that this is a dietary food.

It's no surprise that lion's mane is on the menu of many prestigious restaurants. At the same time, it is served both after heat treatment and raw. The only negative is the high price of such a dish. But for those who love new tastes and sensations, this is not such a huge barrier.

Healing properties

In China, healers have long used the bearded mushroom in their practices. Beneficial features this vegetable "hedgehog" is well known to them. In particular, it was they who told the world that the hedgehog is able to help a person with sclerosis. This knowledge also helped pharmacists produce the medicine needed to treat patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, the mushroom has an anti-inflammatory effect. In Russia, healers used it to treat stomach diseases and tumors. There is also evidence that bearded vulture mushroom extract is being used in research into finding a cure for cancer.

Built environment

As mentioned earlier, combed urchin is listed in the Red Book. This means that the extraction of this mushroom in natural conditions strictly prohibited. Therefore, today special farms are being opened all over the world, on which the bearded mushroom is grown in artificial conditions. This is a rather complicated process, but modern farmers have succeeded well in it - domestic mushrooms not only have the same properties as wild mushrooms, but also significantly exceed them in size.

Asian healers remain the only problem. According to their beliefs, only Forest mushrooms possess the magical energy Qi. Therefore, in these parts, even today, there is a relentless struggle for a natural treasure. Unfortunately, this can lead to complete extinction species within their region.

This mushroom really looks like a hedgehog - its appearance in a mushroom picker is immediately associated with a representative of the forest fauna with sharp thorns. Blackberry comb is used for cooking various dishes and has a peculiar taste. This is a very rare representative of the mushroom kingdom. Where does such a miracle of nature grow? Time to get to know him better.

The combed blackberry (Hericium erinaceus) belongs to the genus Hericium, the Hericium family and, oddly enough, the Russula order. This edible, large, but little-known mushroom has other names: sometimes it is called a lion's mane, Pom-Pom mushroom, comb heritium, grandfather's beard, mushroom noodles. Most of these names were formed among the people, since the appearance of the mushroom really resembles something shaggy, with cosmos or needles. In some sources, the organism is called the hedgehog comb. But the Chinese called this type of houtougu, which translates as "monkey's head." The Japanese also came up with their own name for the blackberry - yamabushitake.

  • the fruiting body has an irregular pear-shaped or rounded shape, compressed on the sides, very large - the weight of one mushroom sometimes reaches 1.5 kg, and the width of an adult specimen is about 20 cm. The color varies from white to cream, in adults - to brown or yellow ;
  • hymenophore - distinguishing feature of this kind. On the lower surface, the fruiting body is covered huge amount long, soft, needle-like outgrowths hanging down, up to 6 cm long. This is the blackberry hymenophore, which makes the fungus look like hedgehogs;
  • pulp is fleshy, dense, white, which does not change shade when damaged or cut, turning yellow when dried. It tastes like shrimp;
  • spores are white.

Distribution and fruiting season

Blackberry comb is quite rare in the wild. This is a saprotroph mushroom, and it grows on trunks deciduous trees, preferring birch, oak or beech. It can settle on both still living and dead plants, usually choosing places where the bark is damaged or there are saw cuts, hollows, broken branches or branches.

Respects warm enough and humid climate and therefore grows in the forests of the Khabarovsk or Primorsky Territory, in the Crimea, the Amur Region, in the northern part of China, in the Caucasus. In the European or central parts of Russia, it occurs singly and extremely rarely.

This mushroom usually grows in splendid isolation, but sometimes you can also find groups consisting of 2-3 fruiting bodies. The fruiting season starts in August and ends in October.

Primary processing and preparation

Mushroom noodles or combed blackberries have excellent taste. Fruiting bodies do not require pre-heat treatment before cooking. This mushroom is usually eaten in fried form, soups, sauces, pie fillings, side dishes are prepared from it, boiled or dried.

If ordinary mushrooms are called forest meat, then blackberries can be safely dubbed "forest seafood", as it tastes like shrimp, crabs or lobsters. It is thanks to this quality that it is highly respected by lovers of unusual dishes and is often found on the menu of various restaurants.

Useful and medicinal properties

However, the crested blackberry is famous not only for its unusual taste. This fungus has medicinal properties. It is an excellent immune stimulant with anti-inflammatory properties and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. In the East, this mushroom is used to restore nerve cells, as well as an antiseptic.

Used to prevent sclerosis, dementia, depression, Alzheimer's disease. In Japan, it is believed that the constant use of blackberry comb in food will help to heal or prevent gastritis.

The medicinal properties of this mushroom allow it to act as an anti-cancer agent and fight leukemia, stomach tumors.

The wild crested blackberry is listed in the Red Book. Its value in the market is very high. Now this blackberry is cultivated in France, China, Russia, but artificially grown mushrooms are less useful and are much cheaper than wild ones.

Hericium erinaceus, Lion's mane, Bearded mushroom, Mushroom noodles (Hericium erinaceus)

Mushroom Hericium erinaceus Bull. 1781 has many Russian names-synonyms: bearded mushroom, blackberry comb, lion's mane, mushroom noodles, etc., and Latin: Clavaria erinaceus (Bull.) Paulet 1793 Dryodon erinaceus (Bull.) P. Karst. 1882 Hericium caputmedusae (Bull.) Pers. 1797 Hericium echinus (Scop.) Pers. 1797 and others. Can be found English title: lion "s mane mushroom; French - Pom-Pom mushroom (Pom-Pom blanc); Chinese name "houtougu" (Chinese 猴头菇 pinyin hóutóugū); Japanese - "yamabushitake" (yamabushitake, Japanese 山伏茸 yamabusitake) and others

Hericium erinaceus looks like noodles or pom-poms, and at first glance does not cause any associations with a mushroom. However, this mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is edible and grows on both living and dead trees. When cooked, the color and texture of Lion's Mane resembles seafood. However, he not only has good taste, but is also widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, as it has antioxidant properties and is able to reduce blood sugar (glucose) levels.

The fruit body of the blackberry comb has a rounded or irregular shape, occurring up to 20 cm in diameter and weighing up to 1.5 k. The blackberry is usually colored from cream to light beige. The flesh is always whitish in color and quite fleshy. When dried, it changes its color to yellowish. The hymenophore is prickly, has the appearance of thin needles hanging down, which makes the mushroom look like a hedgehog - hence the name "Hedgehog". Spore powder is always white.

The main habitats are the trunks of still living or fallen deciduous trees, such as oak, beech, birch. Most often, the body of the fungus can be found in places where the bark or broken branches are broken. The range of distribution of the fungus, the comb-headed blackberry, extends from the Crimean Mountains, eastward through the foothills of the Caucasus to the Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories, the Amur Region and northern regions of China. This fungus is also found in North America. Since it's pretty rare view, then it is listed in the Red Book of many countries.

The fruiting bodies of the fungus blackberry comb can be found in nature from early August to October. In a number of countries, it is grown artificially, for this, sawdust or straw substrates are used. This is due to the fact that it is used in Food Industry, since according to palatability resembles shrimp meat, and in medicine, as an immune stimulant. In folk medicine, it is widely used to treat chronic and atrophic gastritis, cancer of the esophagus, stomach, leukemia, and in oriental medicine it is used as an immunostimulant, stimulator of growth and regeneration of nerve cell processes, and an antiseptic. The active ingredients of this mushroom are: cyatane derivatives, erinacins, hericenones, beta-D-glucans, ergosterol - provitamin D.

Hericium erinaceus was used in East Asia as nutrition and for herbal medicine since ancient times. It has been reported to promote nerve growth through the secretion of nerve growth factor, which is involved in the maintenance and organization of cholinergic neurons in the central nervous system. Special laboratory studies of this fungus have shown that Hericium erinaceus is able to prevent disorders of spatial short-term memory and visual recognition, due to the presence of amyloid β (25-35) peptides. This finding indicates that this mushroom may be useful in the prevention of cognitive dysfunction.

Various researchers claim that Hericium erinaceus may be one of the most effective foods to protect against a range of diseases. The health benefits of using it are to improve memory, improve mood, eliminate anxiety and depression. It also stimulates our natural production of nerve growth factor (NGF), strengthens the immune system, stimulates digestive system. Hericium erinaceus is involved in protecting the body from cancer, regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Scientists have long studied the unique neuroprotective and regenerative properties of this mushroom, which are extremely beneficial for Alzheimer's patients, as well as those who want to protect themselves from neurodegenerative diseases. Hericium erinaceus has the rare ability to increase our natural production of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which help stimulate nerve regeneration; slow the onset and promote reversal of Alzheimer's and neurological diseases. Hericium erinaceus is able to naturally cross the blood-brain barrier, which may aid in brain development and for the maintenance and survival of critical sensory neurons.

What is nerve growth factor (NGF)? Nerve growth factor is a protein found throughout the body, which is essential for normal growth, restoration and regeneration of specific nerve cells (neurons). Nerve Growth Factor helps promote the health and normal functioning of the brain and nervous system. It was in the mushroom Hericium erinaceus that it was found to help stimulate our own natural production of nerve growth factor, whereby our neurons could actually grow.

Hericium erinaceus is often prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine as a Qi (energy) tonic to treat digestive disorders, ulcers, gastrointestinal ailments and promote a healthy metabolism. Hericium erinaceus is extremely safe. But the most important ability of this fungus is the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases; including dementias, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. It has been established that the substances of this fungus have positive influence memory, learning ability, reduce damage free radicals and reverse beta amyloid production. They are also an excellent antioxidant, stimulating the body's own production of antioxidants to prevent free radical damage to healthy cells caused by various stresses and strains. Hericium erinaceus can protect us from memory loss and also help boost our mood. It can help calm the nervous system, thereby improving focus, concentration, and memory. IN Chinese medicine mushroom is used to treat various forms cancers, especially those that affect the digestive system. Hedgehog may treat cancer due to its ability to stimulate the immune system's natural ability to destroy cancer killer cells.

lion's mane

lion mane, blackberry comb, E zhovik comb, Hericium (hericium) comb, Mushroom noodles, Grandfather's beard, Pom-Pom mushroom, Pom-Pom blanc, monkey head, houtougu, yamabushitake(Hericium erinaceus)

Mushroom of the Hericium family of the order Russula.

Unusual in appearance edible mushroom traditionally used in the East.

When boiled, it resembles shrimp meat.

lion's mane

Contains substances that activate the synthesis of a protein involved in the growth of nerve cells, is used in medicine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and senile sclerosis. Chinese healers use it to treat chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Regular consumption of lion's mane improves the condition of the nervous system, stimulates the immune system.

Fruiting body up to 20 cm in size and weighing up to 1.5 kg, rounded or irregular shape, from cream to light beige. The flesh is whitish, fleshy. Turns yellow when dry.

lion's mane

The hymenophore is prickly, has the appearance of thin needles hanging down, which makes the mushroom look like a hedgehog.

Breeding Tips: Grown both outdoors and in enclosed spaces at a temperature of 10 to 27°C.

Favorable time for planting mushrooms on a tree base in natural conditions is from April to October, indoors - throughout the year. As a wood base, a fresh (no more than one month after felling), moist (minimum moisture content of 50-60%) log of hard hardwood trees without signs of rot, with bark and without branches, 10-20 cm in diameter, 100 cm long is used.

If the wood is dry, it is soaked in water for 2-3 days, the excess water is allowed to drain. The impregnated wood is placed in a warm, ventilated room for several days.

lion's mane

Growing and care:
1. In the prepared log, holes are drilled with a diameter of 0.8 cm and a length of 4 cm in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of about 10-15 cm from each other.
2. Insert the mushroom sticks into the holes until they stop (the operation is done with sterile gloves or hands disinfected with alcohol).
3. Place the log on the ground in a warm, shady place and leave it to grow mycelium. During this time, it is necessary to keep the log moist (water 2-3 times a week for 10-15 minutes).
4. After the beginnings of the fungus appear, the log is placed in cold water for 12-24 hours. Then they are installed vertically or obliquely in a bright room, in a greenhouse or in the open air.
5. In winter, a log with a mycelium is sprinkled with leaves or transferred to the basement.

Fruiting: after 6-9 months from the start of sowing logs with mycelium. After picking mushrooms, the mycelium needs rest, for this, the log is less often watered for 2 weeks.

Productivity: High. It depends on the size of the collected mushrooms, but it is better to cut off small ones. fruit bodies, because they keep better.