DEER TRUFFLE

truffle (Elaphomyces cervinus), an underground fungus of the marsupial class. The fruit body resembles a hazelnut or walnut, with thick, warty, brownish bark. When ripe, the pulp turns into black-brown dust, consisting mainly of spores. Usually grows in pine forests, in sandy soil, shallow from the surface. Eaten by deer, hares, and squirrels. Has nothing to do with real truffles.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB. 2012

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what DEER TRUFFLE is in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

  • DEER TRUFFLE
  • DEER TRUFFLE
  • DEER TRUFFLE in Modern explanatory dictionary, TSB:
    mushroom of the class of marsupial fungi. The fruiting body, similar to a nut, is located in the soil. Grows in pine forests. Eaten by deer, hares, and squirrels. ...
  • DEER
    692774, Primorsky, ...
  • DEER in the Directory of Settlements and Postal Codes of Russia:
    186444, Karelia Republic, ...
  • TRUFFLE in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:
    I, pl. truffle, her, m. 1. Marsupial underground tuberous mushroom, some species of which are edible. 2. Variety chocolates round or...
  • TRUFFLE V Encyclopedic Dictionary:
    , -i, plural -i, -ey and -i, -ey, m. 1. Marsupial underground tuberous mushroom, some species of which are edible. 2. Variety...
  • DEER
    DEER TRUFFLE, a mushroom of the class of marsupials. Fetus. the body, similar to a nut, is located in the soil. Grows in pine forests. Eaten by deer...
  • DEER in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
    REINDER MOSS, the same as moss...
  • TRUFFLE
    truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, truffle, …
  • TRUFFLE in the Complete Accented Paradigm according to Zaliznyak:
    trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, trufel, …
  • DEER in the Complete Accented Paradigm according to Zaliznyak:
    ole"nye, ole"nya, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole"nye, ole" ny, ole"new, ole"nye, ole"nyi, ole"nye, ole"new, ole"nye, ole"nyih, ...
  • TRUFFLE in the New Dictionary of Foreign Words:
    (German truffel) 1) a mushroom from the class of ascomycetes with a tuberous edible fruiting body that develops underground; 2) a type of chocolate...
  • TRUFFLE in the Dictionary of Foreign Expressions:
    [German truffel] 1. a mushroom from the class of ascomycetes with a tuberous edible fruiting body that develops underground; 2. variety of chocolate...
  • TRUFFLE in the Russian Synonyms dictionary:
    mushroom, discomycete, ...
  • DEER in the dictionary of Synonyms of the Russian language.
  • TRUFFLE
    1. m. see truffles (1*). 2. m. see truffles...
  • DEER in the New Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language by Efremova:
    adj. 1) Correlative in meaning. with noun: a deer associated with him. 2) Characteristic of a deer, characteristic of it. 3) Belonging to a deer. ...
  • DEER in Lopatin’s Dictionary of the Russian Language:
    ol`eniy, -ya, ...
  • TRUFFLE
    truffle, -i, plural -i, -eyi -ya, ...
  • DEER in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language:
    deer, -ya, ...
  • TRUFFLE in the Spelling Dictionary:
    tr`uffle, -i, plural. -and, -ey and -`i, ...
  • DEER in the Spelling Dictionary:
    ol`eniy, -ya, ...
  • TRUFFLE in Ozhegov’s Dictionary of the Russian Language:
    marsupial underground tuberous mushroom, some species of which are edible truffle a variety of chocolate candies round...
  • TRUFFLE in Dahl's Dictionary:
    husband. edible plant, genus of underground mushroom Tuber. Truffle taste, smell, unique...
  • TRUFFLE
    truffle and (less often) truffle, plural. truffles, truffles, and (less commonly) truffles, truffles, m. (German: Trüffel). 1. Edible mushroom o round shape, growing...
  • DEER in Ushakov’s Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language:
    deer, deer. Adj. to the deer. Deer breed. Deer horns. Deer...
  • TRUFFLE
    truffle 1. m. see truffles (1*). 2. m. see truffles...
  • DEER in Ephraim's Explanatory Dictionary:
    deer adj. 1) Correlative in meaning. with noun: a deer associated with him. 2) Characteristic of a deer, characteristic of it. 3) Belonging...
  • TRUFFLE
  • DEER in the New Dictionary of the Russian Language by Efremova:
    adj. 1. ratio with noun deer associated with it 2. Peculiar to the deer, characteristic of it. 3. Belonging to a deer. 4. Consisting...
  • TRUFFLE
    I m. see truffles I II m. see truffles...
  • DEER in the Large Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language:
    adj. 1. ratio with noun deer associated with it 2. Peculiar to the deer, characteristic of it. 3. Belonging to a deer. 4. …
  • DEER CREEK
    in the east of Moscow, in the Izmailovsky forest, l. Ave. stream flowing through the Red Pond. Length less than 1 km. Starts near Olenye...
  • REINDEER MOSS
    moss, reindeer lichen, moss, lichens from the genus Cladonia: Cladonia rangiferina, Cladonia alpestris, Cladonia sylvatica, etc. Sometimes O. ...
  • TRUFFLE STEPPE
    common name for truffles of the genus Terfezia, found in sandy areas of Africa, Asia and southern Europe. Steppe T., which number up to ...
  • TRUFFLE DEER in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
    common name for truffle genus Elaphomyces. The fruit body is round, underground, smooth or warty, the contents of which turn into a dark powdery...
  • TRUFFLE WHITE in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
    or Polish - a type of marsupial fungus from the truffle department (see), belonging to the genus Choiromyces (Ch. meandriformis) and similar in appearance ...
  • GREYHOUND (English greyhound) in the Encyclopedia of Dogs.
  • AUSTRIAN SHORT-HAIRED PINSCHER in the Encyclopedia of Dogs:
    _Working dogs_ Origin The origin of these dogs is unknown. This breed is also called the Austrian Shorthair Terrier, but it should not be confused with...
  • ENCYCLOPEDIA in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Flowers:
    Alphabetical index A Abelia Abutilon, Indoor maple Avocado Agave Agapanthus, African lily Agapethes Ageratum Aglaomorpha Aglaonema Adenium Adiantum, Venus hair...
  • KNIFE
    DEER - 1. See hunting dirk. 2. See cleaver...
  • SWORD in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons:
    DEER - a type of European hunting sword from the 17th century...
  • DEER POND in the Directory of Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and ravines of Moscow:
    in the north-east of Moscow, on the territory of the Sokolniki recreation park, in the Oleniy Stream valley. They are a cascade of five interconnected ponds, ...
  • IZMAILOVSKIE PONDS in the Directory of Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and ravines of Moscow:
    in the east of Moscow, in the valley of the river. Serebryanka, on the territory of the Izmailovsky forest park. General name for a cascade of 13 ponds connected by channels. ...
  • TRUFFLES in the Encyclopedia Biology:
    , a genus of marsupial fungi. They form underground, fleshy, round-shaped fruiting bodies (similar to potato tubers), covered with warty or smooth skin. ...
  • ACOMYCETES in the Encyclopedia Biology:
    (marsupial fungi), class of fungi. Includes almost half of all their species. Marsupial fungi are characterized by the presence of a special organ - a bursa (ask), ...
  • TRUFFLES in the Book of Tasty and Healthy Food:
    Truffles are underground mushrooms; they grow in the ground at a depth of 10-20 cm. Truffles are white and black. Black truffles grow...
  • TRUFFLES in the Big Encyclopedic Dictionary:
    in biology - marsupial fungi from the group of discomycetes with underground tuberous fleshy fruiting bodies. OK. 100 species, in the temperate zone...
  • CAP MUSHROOMS in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
    mushrooms, macromycetes, a group of higher fungi, usually having more or less large, fleshy fruiting bodies, often consisting of a cap and a stalk. ...
  • PLECTUS in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB:
    (Plectascales), an order of marsupial fungi with closed fruiting bodies (cleistothecia), the bags in which are located between the elements of the main tissue. In the simplest representatives...

The value of truffles lies in their unusual taste and aroma, which is why these mushrooms are considered a delicacy, and their cost on the market can reach several thousand dollars. Photos and descriptions of truffles will help you find them in the forest yourself.

Read today's article for a description and photo of the truffle mushroom, where it grows and how to look for it correctly.

What types of truffle mushrooms are there?

Note: Very often the size of one copy does not exceed the size walnut, but there are mushrooms the size of large potatoes and weighing more than one kilogram. Externally, it also resembles potatoes.

The peridium (outer layer) can have a smooth surface or be cut with a large number of different cracks, and there are also specimens with characteristic multifaceted warts. In the cross section, a pronounced marble structure is observed.


Picture 1. External features mushrooms

The pulp consists of inner and outer “wreaths”, which have dark and light shades. On the internal and external “veins” there are spore bags that have the most various forms. The species affects the color of the pulp, which can be white, black, gray or chocolate.

Kinds

The truffle family includes more than a hundred representatives of these famous mushrooms, which are classified according to their biological-geographical group and in terms of gastronomic value (black, white, red).

The most famous varieties are:

  1. Black summer(Russian). This variety can reach a diameter of up to 10 cm and a weight of 0.4 kg. As he grows up, he may change color scheme from white to yellow or gray-brown. The consistency of the pulp in young specimens is very dense, while in older specimens it is loose. Representatives of the species have a sweetish, nutty taste with a slightly noticeable odor of algae. This species can be found in the following regions: Transcaucasia, Crimea, the European part of Russia and Europe. It can be found under oak, hazel and pine. Fruiting begins in June and lasts until early October.
  2. Black Autumn Burgundy It has a round shape and can weigh up to 0.32 kg, but its size is no more than 8 cm. At maturity, the pulp is colored milk chocolate and is riddled with white veins. The taste can be distinguished by the aroma of cocoa, although Burgundy specimens have a bitter aftertaste.
  3. Black winter endowed with an irregular spherical or spherical shape. The size of the fruiting bodies can be 8-20 cm and weigh up to 1.5 kg. The surface is covered with a red-violet hue, on which polygonal warts can be observed. They have a very pleasant musky aroma and can be found in moist soils under linden or hazel trees. Such amazing specimens can be found in France, Switzerland, Italy and Ukraine.
  4. Black Perigord(French) has an irregular or slightly rounded shape. The outer peridium is covered with warts, which change color from red-brown to charcoal-dark as they mature. Among all known species, this one is considered the most valuable because it has a pleasant taste and strong aroma.
  5. White Piedmontese(Italian) is externally endowed with an irregular tuberous shape of fruiting bodies and in cross section can reach 12 cm. Very often there are specimens with a fruit weight of up to 300 grams, but sometimes you can find fruits weighing up to 1 kg. The peridium may be yellowish-red or brown in color. The pulp of the fruit is cream or white, but you can find specimens with a slight red tint. The variety differs from its relatives in its pleasant taste qualities and an aroma reminiscent of garlic and cheese. This species grows exclusively in northern Italy.

Figure 2. The most popular types of mushrooms: 1 - black summer, 2 - black autumn (Burgundy), 3 - black winter, 4 - black Perigord, 5 - white Italian

We have provided photos and descriptions of only the main species (Figure 2), although in fact there are many more of them, and almost all of them are of high nutritional value.

Characteristic

Truffles grow exclusively below the soil surface in small groups. They can contain from 3 to 7 fruiting bodies, which have cartilaginous and fleshy pulp.

The range of locations of the families is very extensive and they can be found in the following regions: Europe, Asia, the USA and North Africa (Figure 3).

Regarding its widespread distribution, the following features can be distinguished:

  • The mycelium of the Piedmontese variety can form a symbiosis with the roots of poplar, birch and linden.
  • Perigord can be found in groves of beech, oak or hornbeam trees. It is mainly found in Spain, Switzerland and southern France.
  • Black summer grows well in mixed or deciduous forests, as well as in calcareous soils.

Figure 3. Distribution of fungi in the natural environment

This species can be found in Central Europe, Black Sea coast Caucasus, Scandinavian countries and Ukraine. However, cases of finding this specimen in certain areas of Central Asia have been recorded.

Peculiarities

IN chemical composition there are no pronounced features. The fame of this mushroom is based on its aromatic properties, which are supposed to cause the awakening of certain feelings and desires.

Today they are the rarest and most expensive, since the demand for them is much higher than the supply. In the vastness of our country you can only find the black summer variety.

What does a truffle look like?

If you want to find these mushrooms in the forest, you definitely need to know what a truffle looks like (Figure 4). Externally, the shape of the fruiting bodies can be tuberous or round with a size of 2-10 cm. The peridium has a dark color range from bluish-black to brown-black. Pyramidal warts can often be observed on the surface, but there are species with a smooth peridium.


Figure 4. External features of truffles

The flesh of a mature specimen is loose, while that of a young specimen is dense. At the very beginning of growth, the flesh will be white and as the specimen matures it will acquire a brownish-yellow color. When cut, the light veins give it a marbled color. The pulp is sweetish in taste and nut-like, and the aroma is similar to the smell of algae.

The author of the video will tell you what a truffle looks like and where to look for it.

Main differences from other mushrooms

Truffles on the market are very expensive and the price for 1 kilogram of such a rare product starts from 400 euros. Such a high cost of this type is associated with such factors:

  • Difficulty in growing;
  • Seasonal production;
  • High level of taste and aroma properties (quality) of the product.

The value of each unit is measured by its size: than larger specimen, the more expensive it costs. The most expensive are mushrooms with a large fruiting body (like an apple), but such specimens grow in less than 1% of the total world harvest. Walnut-sized specimens make up 10% of the harvest, and grape-sized specimens make up 30%. The remaining percentage is made up of very small mushrooms, and their cost is much less. Very small ones are used mainly for preparing a variety of sauces.

What does a white truffle look like?

Unlike the black variety, the white variety cannot be bred. The difficulty of cultivation is due to the fact that it grows in limited regions of Italy (Figure 5).

Note: Seasonal harvesting has made this variety a real gastronomic rarity. You can taste fresh mushrooms only during the harvest period, which occurs from October to January.

The cost of the white variety made it the most expensive delicacy in the world, surpassing the price of black caviar, foie gras and gold. For this reason, you can often find special auctions where you can purchase the most different kinds this expensive gastronomic product. The average price per kilogram is 3-4 thousand euros, and the most record price is 330 thousand dollars per piece weighing 1.5 kg. Such a large specimen was auctioned incognito in Hong Kong. The auction rules include a mandatory clause about providing a complete pedigree, which includes the following points:

  • Exact weight of the specimen down to the gram;
  • The name of the dog that found him;
  • Indicate the location of the tree where it was found.

Figure 5. External features of the white Italian variety

Because of high cost and rarity, you can only see what a white truffle looks like in a photo or a specialized video.

Peculiarities

Pricing policy and aroma strength white truffle makes it a dream for any culinary gourmet. Cooks never cook them in their pure form during cooking. Very often you can observe a situation in culinary dishes when they are added in the same proportion as herbs and other spices.

It is customary to serve them with minimal heat treatment, as this can weaken the delicate taste and aroma. The strong point of white mushrooms is the aroma of fresh mushrooms, so very often they are laid out in thin slices on an already prepared dish.

What does a black truffle look like?

The black (Périgord) variety is very similar in aroma to the white one, but its earthy and musky notes are weaker, and are often complemented by the smell of fresh hazelnuts. It is often added to culinary dishes during cooking (Figure 6).

Peculiarities

The black truffle is considered the most valuable specimen of this species, which very often grows in France. It has the second name Périgordsky, as this is due to the place where it grows.


Figure 6. Black truffles: features

A distinctive feature of this species is the special reddish-brown-black color of the peridium. The pulp is dark in color, and the smell is very characteristic and has a pleasant taste. This variety grows in winter and begins to be collected from January to March.

Today, many types of truffles have been identified that can be safely eaten without danger to health. However, there are many other fungi that, if they enter the human body, can cause digestive tract upset or cause severe intoxication of the body (Figure 7).

It is very easy to mistake a false truffle for a real culinary rarity. They may have external similarities, but at the same time belong to a different family. For example, deer grass grows in the wooded areas of Europe and North America and is not edible for humans, but animals eat it with great pleasure.


Figure 7. Appearance and features of false truffle

Reindeer truffles can cause stomach upset, but at the same time, false truffles are deadly to human health. Externally, it has an oblong shape, dark red or beige color and belongs to the basidiomycetes family. Fruiting body poisonous mushroom can grow up to 10 cm in length and will have a characteristic bad smell. Inedible species include tombolans (steppe truffles), which grow in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, North Africa and Southern Europe. However, among the Tombolans there are also edible mushrooms.

Truffles belong to the truffle genus of the truffle family (Tuberaceae). These are edible mushrooms, some of which are valuable delicacies.

The truffle's fruiting body is located underground, it has a round or tuberous shape and a fleshy or gristly consistency. The size is variable, from the size of a hazelnut to a potato tuber. On top of the fruiting body there is a leathery layer, smooth, cracking or covered with warts. When cut, the tissue of the fruiting body has a marble pattern, in which light and dark veins alternate.


Truffles grow in deciduous forests, under trees specific to each species. For example, black truffle and summer truffle grow under oaks, beeches, hornbeams, and hazels; Piedmontese truffles are found next to birches, poplars, elms, lindens, rowan trees, and hawthorns.


Truffles are harvested in the fall or in early spring. For this purpose, specially trained dogs or pigs are often used.


Real truffles are edible mushrooms. The most valuable types are the Perigord, Piedmont and winter truffles. Their pulp has a mushroom flavor with a hint of roasted seeds or walnuts and a strong characteristic aroma. After soaking in water, the truffle acquires flavor soy sauce. Truffles are often added raw to dishes at the very end of cooking in order to preserve the aroma of these mushrooms.

Types of truffle mushroom


The fruiting body is underground, tuberous or round, 2.5-10 cm in diameter. The surface is brown-black or bluish-black, covered with black warts. The pulp of the young mushroom is dense, becomes loose over time, the color changes from whitish to brown-yellow and gray-brown, light veins form a marble pattern. The taste is nutty, sweetish, the aroma is pleasant and strong.

It is found in mixed and deciduous forests, on calcareous soils, under oaks, beeches, hornbeams, birches, in Central Europe, in Russia. The fruiting season begins in summer and continues until early autumn.


The fruiting body is irregularly spherical to almost round in shape, 8-15 cm in diameter. The weight of an adult mushroom is 1-1.5 kg. The surface is covered with warts, 2-3 mm in size. The color of a young mushroom is reddish-violet, turning black with age. Pulp first white, then becomes gray or gray-violet with white and yellowish-brown marble veins. It has a strong and pleasant smell, reminiscent of musk.

Grows in France, Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine. Ripens from November to February-March.


The fruiting body is underground, has the shape of irregular tubers measuring 2-12 cm and weighing 30-300 g. The surface is uneven, velvety, light ocher or brownish, the skin is not separated from the pulp. The pulp is dense, whitish or yellow-gray, sometimes reddish, with a white and creamy-brown marbled pattern. The taste is pleasant, the smell is spicy, similar to cheese with garlic.

Mycorrhiza-forming with oak, willow and poplar, linden. It is found in deciduous forests in northwestern Italy (Piedmont) and France. The white Piedmontese truffle harvest lasts from September 21 to January 31.


The fruiting body is underground, tuberous, round or irregular shape, 3-9 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-brown, in old mushrooms it is coal-black, and becomes rusty when pressed. The pulp is hard, light, gray or pinkish-brown in color with a white or reddish marble pattern; in older mushrooms it is dark. It has a strong characteristic aroma and a pleasant taste with a slight bitterness.

Grows in deciduous forests, on calcareous soil, most often under oaks. Distributed in France, Italy and Spain. The season lasts from November to March.

Poisonous and inedible types of truffle mushroom


A mushroom inedible for humans.

The fruit body is round in shape, 1-4 cm in size, yellow-brown in color. The smell is pungent, earthy, similar to the smell of potatoes. The surface is finely tuberculate.

Found in Europe and North America, in Chile, China, Japan and Taiwan. Grows under coniferous trees, as well as under chestnuts, beeches and oaks, at all times of the year, en masse in late summer and autumn.


Oak or common hazel seedlings are used as a substrate for growing truffles. The seedlings are kept in sterile conditions for several weeks to allow the mycelium to take root. After this, the seedlings are planted in the nursery.

The soil for growing truffles should have a pH of 7.5-7.9 and a high content of humus and calcium. It should not contain stones, weeds and should not be contaminated with other types of mushrooms. Before planting, deep mechanical processing is carried out. The soil is not fertilized before planting. Environment must be dry, with average temperature 16.5-22°C.

Seedlings are planted in the spring. No more than 500 trees per hectare. Pour a little water into the hole, cover the seedling tightly and water it again. The planting depth is 75 cm. Place next to each seedling upper layer forest soil with fallen leaves and plastic film.

The edible part of the truffle is fruiting body, containing disputes. The fruiting bodies are located at a depth of about 20 cm. They are dug out with small shovels. An indicator of the presence of a truffle harvest is the so-called truffle flies.

Calorie content of truffle

The calorie content of 100 g of truffle is 25 kcal. Energy value:

  • Proteins:………………….3 g (12 kcal)
  • Fat:……………………….0.5 g (5 kcal)
  • Carbohydrates:………………….2 g (8 kcal)


  • The maximum weight of a truffle reaches 1 kg, although there are also very tiny specimens the size of a pea.
  • According to one hypothesis, mature truffles contain anandamide, a psychoactive substance that is similar in effect to marijuana.
  • In France and Italy, since the 15th century, it has been common to search for truffles growing in the forest with the help of search dogs and pigs, which can smell truffles underground at a distance of up to 20 m.
  • In the 19th century, truffles began to be cultivated; at that time, up to 1000 tons of these mushrooms were collected. IN last years The truffle harvest is about 50 tons. Mushrooms are grown in the USA, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and the UK. And at the beginning of the 21st century, China became a major producer of truffles in the world. The Chinese variety is cheaper, but its quality is lower.

Italy and France are rich in mushroom places, but the species that will be discussed further also grows in America and Asia. Unique specimens of truffles are also found in the Middle East. The geography of distribution of this mushroom is quite interesting, as is the species itself.

The truffle, or as it is also called the “Gastronomic Diamond,” is rightfully considered the most expensive and rare mushroom in the whole world, since the demand for it is much higher than the supply. It gained its popularity due to its unsurpassed taste and aroma properties.

The truffle mushroom belongs to the genus of marsupial mushrooms and is an edible representative of the truffle family. The fruiting body of the fungus has a bumpy surface and a tuberous shape. A cross section of the mushroom shows a marble pattern. In its structure it resembles an old potato tuber. Despite the rather unpresentable appearance, for gourmets this mushroom is a real treasure and a desirable specimen.

Description of truffle

The truffle mushroom grows mostly in Europe, in deciduous forests. The mushroom forms a mutually beneficial symbiosis with the roots of different trees, such as oak or linden. The truffle gets what it needs from the tree nutrients, and in return protects him from various diseases. It prefers only warm climatic conditions.

A distinctive feature of the mushroom from all others is that it grows only underground at a depth of 10-30 cm, in small families. There are both small specimens and very large ones, the weight of which can reach more than 1 kg. There is quite a large number of varieties of truffles, but the most valuable in cooking are:

  • White Piedmontese.
  • Black Perigord.
  • Summer.
  • Winter.

This expensive delicacy cannot be purchased in a regular store; it can only be purchased in specialized departments or directly from suppliers. Mostly, prestigious restaurants order truffles in small quantities. The high cost and inaccessibility of the product is explained by the difficulty of obtaining them.

In low-yield years, the price can increase several tens of times. Industrial cultivation of truffles is most developed in Italy and France. They are usually used exclusively for preparing a variety of delicious dishes with great taste.

When and how to collect truffles

Many mushroom pickers want to find such a valuable truffle mushroom in Russia, but this is very difficult. For this purpose, you will need certain knowledge and specially trained dogs or pigs that can smell the truffle underground. Also, some experts in “silent” hunting pay attention to the swarm of midges that circle in the place where the truffle is hiding.

After collecting mushrooms, you need to remember the place to return next year for a new harvest, but only if the mycelium was not disturbed. The found fruit must be dug up very carefully so as not to damage the mycelium. The harvest of the truffle depends on the type of mushroom and the growing season, late autumn or early spring is the best time to collect it.

Inedible truffle lookalikes

Even the noble truffle has inedible look-alikes, which should not be eaten as they can be dangerous for human body. These mushrooms include:

  • Reindeer truffle.
  • False truffle.

Despite their external similarity, these mushrooms belong to completely different families. Symptoms of poisoning manifest themselves as follows: 1

All truffles are valued by gourmets due to the fact that they are rare and quite tasty. But in today’s material we will study an inedible representative belonging to the family Elaphomycetes and the genus Elaphomyces. We will talk about the deer truffle - the fruiting body small size, which is otherwise called rain or grain. People do not consume these mushrooms as food, but representatives of the animal world really like them. The truffles are attacked by squirrels, deer and hares, and a real battle for the fruiting bodies can begin.

Description

  1. Like other representatives of this family, truffles grow directly in the soil. They are small, growing to a maximum of 5 cm in diameter, but in reality there are much smaller specimens. The weight reaches 18 grams. every.
  2. During the heat treatment (drying) process, the shape remains virtually unchanged. It remains round or tuberous. In terms of external characteristics, these fruiting bodies resemble walnuts or hazelnuts. They feel quite dense.
  3. The fruiting body itself becomes covered with a crust with bumps and the like of warts. The thickness of this bark is about 3 mm. The color of the mushrooms is light yellow, brown with rusty spots, brown-red, brown-golden. At the beginning of spring, quite bright specimens of a reddish tone are sometimes found.
  4. This representative has no basis. The soft part is hard, painted radially, and includes several layers. The edges are orange, thin, followed by a whitish color, then thicker gray-brown inclusions. The composition of the pulp ends with a thin white layer, and in the center the mushroom is black and gray.
  5. In some cases central part may be whitish, painted in a dark gray tone. The soft part is bitter, there is practically no aroma, in some cases it is simply unpleasant.
  6. In young animals, the soft part is painted in a light marble tone. It is reddish, with light spots. Mature fruiting bodies take on a violet or brownish-purple hue, and dust forms. This powder consists of spores that are either black or brown-black in color.

Growth

  1. Fruit specimens can often be found in forest belts where pine trees grow. They can also live with spruce trees. Fruiting bodies are found in larches, squares, and park areas. Sand is considered the favorite soil for growth.
  2. Mushrooms are not found directly underground; they prefer to settle closer to the soil surface. They live at shallow depths, for example, under a litter of leaves, moss or pine needles.
  3. You can find fruiting bodies at a depth of 2 to 15 cm, but the average is 5 cm. Myceliums are located in the root system of trees. This is how mycorrhiza is built. Tree species suitable for these purposes can be very different.

Doubles

  1. In terms of external characteristics, this fruiting body has certain similarities. The spiny truffle is considered a close relative of the mushroom under discussion. It has a shell pigmented with a brownish-yellow tint. Truffles grow in birch groves or next to single trees of this species.
  2. Also, the variety of fruiting bodies under discussion has another double, which is called the red-brown truffle. It is a small tuber or bunch that grows up to 7 cm in diameter. The surface is brown-red or brown-pink. The soft part smells nice and looks like a brain.
  3. The deer specimen belongs to the marsupial fruiting bodies that live underground. It is not similar to a real delicacy; it was often used by scammers who passed off this fruiting body under the guise of a delicacy. The genus includes about twenty varieties. Some species grow in the coniferous belt, others - in the larches of European countries.

Edibility

  1. It was mentioned earlier that mushrooms are not eaten. However, these specimens are considered a real treat for some inhabitants of the animal world. We are talking about squirrels, mice, badgers, wild boars, deer, etc.
  2. If the year is not fruitful, squirrels begin to dig the ground in order to find these fruiting bodies. They tear up the soil to a depth of 8 cm. When you really want to eat, they look for truffles under the snow.

In today's article we looked at everything that affects the representative of the Elaphomycetes family. We are talking about deer truffle, which is not consumed by humans. This fruiting body serves as a snack for forest inhabitants, which is often used by hunters. They lure squirrels and wild boars to such specimens.