Curly grifola is an extremely rare species that is listed in the Red Book of Russia. A new mushroom does not appear every year, so meeting it in nature for a mushroom picker is a rarity. Due to its medicinal and edible properties, it is of great interest for growing under microzakaznikov conditions for scientific and medical research. Outwardly, the mushroom looks like a lush curly fleece of lamb. It is characterized by its impressive size and by many criteria differs from most relatives of the family Fomitopsisaceae (Fomitopsidaceae) of the genus Grifola (Grifola).

Curly Mushroom or Grifola

The variety reaches the impressive size of one adult. The fruiting body of one grifola at the base reaches 50-60 cm in diameter. The average weight of the bunch ranges from 4-5 kg. Has a characteristic irregular spherical shape. In the central part, many legs germinate, which repeatedly branch in different directions. At the end of each of them is attached a flat hat.

Their shape can be very diverse:

• hemisphere;
• round;
• blade;
• linguistic.

In width, one leg can grow from 3 to 11 cm, in thickness reaches 1 cm. Leathery hats are fleshy and stiff, wavy at the edges, tapering closer to the leg with a wedge. The pulp is light, aromatic, with a nutty flavor, slightly brittle. The hat itself is characterized by a beige or gray-brown color on the outside, with a white color on the underside, as can be seen in this photo.

Did you know? According to legend, the “dancing” mushroom got its name due to the performance of a special ritual dance during its collection in order to preserve the healing properties.

The shape of the spores is ellipsoidal. They are processed into white powder. Mushroom ram in various sources can be found under a different terminology: maytake, curly griffin, maytake, leafy tinder, leafy tinder, dancing mushroom, lamb head.

Where and at what time it grows

The dancing mushroom most often populates the deciduous forests of North America, the North Caucasus, Australia, Western Europe, Japan, Tibet and Asia. On the territory of Russia, it is rarely seen. Maitake belongs to the group of parasitic plants and loves to grow on the stumps of fruit trees, such as cherries or apricots.

In the wild, they can be collected in the bases of old maples, oaks, chestnuts, beech, linden. Wood becomes a substrate for nutrition and growth. Harvesting is possible from mid-summer to November.

Edibility and taste

Tinder fungus leafy is absolutely edible, it can be either cooked or consumed in dried form. From it you can cook a variety of dishes: soups, broths, etc. Use as an ingredient in fish, vegetable and meat dishes. Very tasty fried and stewed. When cooking, its beneficial properties are appreciated and only young lamb heads are used.The greater the age, the less pleasant the taste. Maitake has a unique pleasant aroma and a delicate nutty flavor. It is used as a dietary supplement in the form of a dried powder. Mushroom-ram can be pickled and rolled. It does not need to be soaked before cooking. It’s enough to chop and cook your favorite dish.

Vitamins and BJU

Mycelium contains many valuable biochemical substances.

Important! Eating curly grifola for pregnant women and nursing mothers is not allowed, as it lowers blood glucose levels. It is also used with caution in diabetes.

Scientists have determined that the composition includes:

• proteins (1.95 g), carbohydrates (8 g), fats (0.18 g);
• vitamin complexes: riboflavin, nicotinic acid, tocopherol, cyanocobalamin, ascorbic acid, thiamine, calciferol;
• trace elements: dietary fiber, iron, potassium, selenium, copper, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, sodium, ash;
• amino acids: essential (threonine, valine, leucine, tryptophan, isoleucine, lysine), essential (arginine, glutamic and aspartic acid, serine, glycine, proline).

The nutritional value and vitamin composition are preserved even after heat treatment.

Use in medicine and cooking

In medicine, the ram is widespread, it is used for the following purposes:

1. Treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system (use extract). Recommended for high blood pressure.
2. Strong antiseptic. It is included in the formulation of antibacterial drugs and ointments.
3. Assign to women who do not tolerate the manifestations of the menopause. Normalizes hormonal levels, relieves pain and reduces sweating.
4. As a dietary supplement for weight loss during diets.
5. Contributes to the fight against hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis. Improves liver function.
6. In the treatment of diabetes to reduce blood sugar and obesity.
7. Maytake components can freeze the formation of cancer cells and prevent the formation of malignant cells and tumors.
8. Strengthens the immune system.
9. Participates in the detoxification of the body.

In cooking, young hats are prepared as independent dishes, and are included in numerous recipes for vegetable and meat dishes (soups, fries, sauces, etc.). Dried and powdered rams are used as a very tasty aromatic seasoning.

Did you know? The antiviral properties of leaf tinder are successfully used in the development of drugs to combat the HIV virus and AIDS treatment programs.

The high fiber content in the fruit body and moderate calorie content in combination with a rich taste and aroma leave a feeling of satiety without overeating.Pickled ram mushroom.

When and how to collect

The photo and description below will help you figure out what maytake looks like so as not to pick up false mushrooms in your mushroom picker basket. They appear in August - September and can occur until mid-autumn. They grow in broad-leaved forests in central Russia. The collection does not last long, since a very short period of time passes from the beginning of the growth of the fruiting body to its decay.

Important! When collecting a lamb's head, it is important not to confuse it with other mushrooms that are similar in appearance, such as griffola umbrella or curly sparassis.

Contraindications and possible harm

Curly grifola is safe to eat and a very healthy product. In individual cases, it can cause allergies and indigestion due to the high concentration of chitin or intolerance to the individual components. The properties of a lamb head are still poorly understood, so many mushroom pickers consider them inedible.It is contraindicated for use by pregnant and lactating mothers, children under the age of 12 years, hypotensives. Knowing what maitake looks like, given the correct time and method of collection, cooking technology, you can always please yourself with a tasty and pleasant delicacy. Only experienced mushroom pickers can show what a mushroom looks like, so they are not recommended to go for the first time in search of it themselves.