Bakery 

How to cook orange talkers. Talking mushrooms: edible and inedible varieties

The talker is a bent lamellar mushroom.
(Clitocybe geotropa) on the picture

The talker is bent. Grows singly and in large groups forming wide rings from early July to mid-October. It grows in the form of “witch circles” on the edges of forests, near roads and in bushes. It produces large yields on calcareous soils.

The mushroom is edible. A large, smooth depressed gray-yellow cap 12-20 cm, initially convex with a small tubercle, then becomes funnel-shaped with a tubercle in the center. The plates are often descending, initially white, then yellowish-pinkish. The stem is dense, club-shaped, 10-20 cm long, 2-3 cm thick, the same color as the cap, pubescent with mycelium at the bottom. The pulp is thin and dry. The flesh of young mushrooms is white, while that of mature mushrooms is brown and has a strong, unpleasant odor. In the cap it is dense, elastic, in the stem it is loose. No milk.

Fruits from August to October.

Knowing the description of the talker mushroom of this species, you will never confuse it with the poisonous entoloma (Entoloma sinuatum), whose cap is not funnel-shaped and without a tubercle, the leg is not club-shaped, and the flesh has a rancid odor. Entomola may cause stomach upset.

Young edible talker mushrooms are quite tasty, old ones are a bit harsh, but quite edible when mixed with other mushrooms.

on the picture
(Clitocybe nebularis) on the picture

Talker gray or smoky (Clitocybe nebularis) is an edible mushroom. The cap is 7-15 cm, initially convex with a small hump, then becomes flat with a small depression, thick, fleshy, ash-gray or gray-brownish. The plates are often white-grayish or yellow-grayish. The leg is strong fibrous, thickened below, white-grayish short, 2-4 cm thick. The pulp emits the smell of toilet soap. In the cap it is thick, fleshy, in the stem it is watery and loose. Spore powder is white.

Grows in coniferous and deciduous forests, in bushes, near dead wood. Often in large groups.

Fruits from August to November.

It has no poisonous or inedible counterparts. The mushroom is difficult to confuse with other species, as it is distinguished by a pungent odor, late appearance, and easily crushed plates in mature specimens.

Smoky talker belongs to the fourth category of mushrooms. Without pre-treatment, which consists of boiling for half an hour, it can cause food poisoning.

Previously, the mushroom was considered unconditionally edible, but now views on its edibility have changed. The fact is that in some people, when consumed (especially young specimens), it can cause stomach upset, excessive sweating, and breathing difficulties. Strongly accumulates salts of heavy metals. In any case, it requires mandatory preliminary boiling and should not be abused.

If all culinary standards are followed, the mushroom becomes absolutely harmless and can be salted and pickled. In folk medicine, the healing properties of talker, whose tissues contain a natural antibiotic, have long been known.

Goblet talker in the photo

Goblet-shaped talker. The cap is up to 8 cm in diameter, broadly funnel-shaped, goblet-shaped or cup-shaped, with a downward-turned edge, shiny, silky, and when moistened, seems to be saturated with water. The entire mushroom is dark ash-gray or brownish-fawn. The plates are adherent or descending along the stalk, rather sparse, sometimes branched, light brown or brownish-brown. The pulp is thin, grayish, watery. The spore sac is white. The leg is up to 10 cm high, elastic, hollow, thickened at the bottom, fluffy at the base. It grows in coniferous, mixed, broad-leaved forests on the forest floor, fallen pine needles, rotten wood, and is quite common. Fruits in August – September.

Edible mushrooms are eaten boiled and salted. High quality mushroom.

Orange talker in the photo
Rare edible agaric mushroom

Orange talker is a rare edible agaric mushroom. Other names are cocoshka or false chanterelle. It grows singly or in small groups, producing stable harvests annually from early August to late October. Favorite habitats are damp areas of mixed or coniferous forest, covered with a thick layer of moss or fallen leaves, as well as rotting trunks of pine trees lying on the ground.

As you can see in the photo, this talker mushroom has a convex cap with curved edges that eventually takes the shape of a funnel:


Its average diameter is 4–5 cm. As it grows, the yellow-orange color of the cap fades, retaining its saturation only in the center. The plates are descending, brighter in color than the cap, and darken when pressed. The stalk is rounded, thinner at the base, the same color as the plates on the spore-bearing layer. Its height is 4–5 cm with a diameter of no more than 0.5 cm. The pulp is thin, tasteless and odorless, in the cap it is yellow, soft, reminiscent of cotton wool, in the stem it is reddish, hard, elastic.

Only the caps of young mushrooms are eaten, which can be boiled and fried.

Club-footed and funnel-footed talkers

The club-footed talker in the photo
Thick-legged talker in the photo

The club-footed talker (thick-legged talker, club-legged talker). The cap is up to 8 cm in diameter, initially convex, then flat, in mature mushrooms it is funnel-shaped, with a raised thin edge, brown or gray-brown, fading. The plates are sparse, whitish, then yellowish, creamy, descending onto the stem. The pulp is moist, thin at the edges, whitish, with a faint floury odor. The leg is up to 8 cm high, club-shaped, swollen, solid, fibrous, grayish-brownish, covered in the lower part with a coating of mycelium. Prefers to grow in coniferous and forests mixed with birch on the forest floor, singly and in small groups. Appears in August and grows until late autumn.

Preparation. A little-known, edible, conditionally edible, but not entirely tasty mushroom. In combination with alcohol it acts as poisonous. After boiling and removing the broth, it can be boiled, fried, salted and pickled with other mushrooms.

Funnel talker in the photo
Funnel-shaped talker in the photo

Funnel-shaped talker (funnel-shaped talker, funnel). The cap is up to 8 cm in diameter, with a protruding tubercle in the middle, during the ripening period it takes on a deep funnel shape, dry, with a sinuous edge, yellow-brown-fawn. The plates of the funnel talker are frequent, with small intermediate plates, descending down the stem. The pulp is thin, with a pleasant powdery smell. The stem is up to 8 cm high, thinly twisted, rigidly elastic, solid, with a white “felt” of mycelium, which is involved in the decomposition of forest decay. This type is the most common among talkers. It grows in forests of various types on the forest floor of fallen leaves and needles in bushes, along paths, often, singly or in scatterings, from summer to late autumn.

Preparation. The mushroom is edible when young. Needs prolonged boiling. Can be dried. Recommended to be consumed together with other mushrooms.

Talkers inverted and anise

The talker is upside down in the photo
Hat with a diameter of 4-8 cm

The talker is inverted (reverse lepista). The cap is 4-8 cm in diameter, as the mushroom grows it becomes wide-funnel-shaped, brick- or red-yellow-brown, fades over time, and is shiny in damp weather. The plates are frequent, descending to the stem, light yellow, then brownish-yellow, sandy-ochre. The pulp is thin, grayish-yellow or fawn, light brownish, with a faint sour odor. The stem is root-like at the base, often curved, rigid, solid, then hollow, reddish, usually lighter than the cap, or rusty-brown. The inverted talker can be found in pine forests and plantings on coniferous litter, in mixed forests on litter. Fruiting bodies form large groups in August–October.

Preparation. Low value edible mushroom. Suitable for pickling after boiling. Some authors classify this mushroom as inedible.

Anise talker in the photo
Smelling talker in the photo

Anise talker is an edible lamellar mushroom. Other names are odorous talker and fragrant talker. A rather rare mushroom that grows singly or in small groups from early August to late October, producing large harvests each year. Most often it can be found in mixed and spruce forests.

When describing this talker, it is worth noting that its convex cap with downward-curved edges straightens as it grows and takes on an outstretched shape. In the center, as a rule, it has a small depression, less often a tubercle. The cap is painted gray-green, lighter around the edge.

The spore-bearing layer contains adherent plates, which are whitish in young mushrooms and pale green in mature ones. The leg is rounded, wider at the base, grayish-yellow in color with a greenish tint. Its height is approximately 5 cm with a diameter of no more than 0.5 cm. The surface of the stem of the cap is smooth, with slight pubescence at the base. The pulp is thin, watery, pale green or off-white in color, with a strong anise odor.

Anise talker belongs to the fourth category of mushrooms. It is eaten boiled, salted or pickled, and as a result of heat treatment, the characteristic smell of anise is significantly weakened and becomes less pronounced than that of fresh mushrooms.

Waxy and gigantic talkers

Talker Waxy in the photo
Poisonous agaric mushroom in the photo

Waxy govorushka is a rare poisonous lamellar mushroom. It grows singly or in small groups from late July to late September, preferring open, sunlit areas of mixed or coniferous forest with sandy soil or short, dense grass.

In young mushrooms the cap is convex, but as it grows it becomes slightly depressed or spread out, with wavy edges. There is a small tubercle in the center of the cap. The surface of the cap is smooth, matte, light gray in color, but in wet weather it darkens, and barely noticeable concentric zones appear on it. The spore-bearing layer is formed by descending cream-colored plates. The leg is rounded, smooth, wider at the base, solid inside. Its height is about 5 cm with a diameter of 1 cm. The surface of the leg of this poisonous talker is painted dirty white, its upper part is smooth, and the lower part is slightly pubescent. The pulp is thick, with an unpleasant odor, elastic in the stem, fragile in the cap.

The tissues of the waxy talker contain a poison dangerous to the human body that can cause serious food poisoning.

Giant talker in the photo
The convex cap of the mushroom becomes funnel-shaped over time in the photo

Giant talker is a rare conditionally edible agaric mushroom. It grows in large groups, forming so-called witch circles, from late August to late October. Gives abundant harvests every year. It prefers to settle in open areas of the forest, as well as in pastures.

The convex cap of the mushroom eventually becomes funnel-shaped, with thin, upward-curved edges. As a rule, the diameter of the cap of a mature mushroom does not exceed 13–15 cm, but there are also giants with caps with a diameter of up to 30 centimeters or more. They gave the name to this type of mushroom. The surface of the cap is matte, silky to the touch, and depending on the habitat, it may be covered with small scales. Most often it is snow-white, less often the color of coffee with milk. On the underside of the cap there are descending plates with bridges. Their color changes from beige to yellow as they grow. The stem is white, dense, up to 8-10 cm high and about 3-4 cm in diameter. The pulp is also white, fleshy, elastic, with a weak powdery odor, in old mushrooms it has a bitter aftertaste.

The giant talker belongs to the fourth category of mushrooms. It is eaten only after preliminary boiling, after which it can be used to prepare first and second courses, as well as to prepare it for future use - salt or pickle it. The pulp of the mushroom contains a natural antibiotic - clitocybin A and B, which has a detrimental effect on the tuberculosis bacillus.

White talker in the photo
Clitocybe candicans in the photo

White talker (Clitocybe candicans). The cap is 1.5–5 cm in diameter, convex at first, later straightened to concave, the edge is thin and drooping. The skin is at first slightly mealy, then shiny and smooth. The color is white, sometimes with a faint pink tint. The plates are frequent, slightly descending, white. The pulp is thin, white, the smell is inexpressive, the taste is pleasant.

The stem is 2–4 cm high, up to 0.5 cm in diameter, cylindrical, often bent at the base, tomentose. The color is white or yellowish.

Spore powder. White.

Habitat. In forests of various types on litter and needles.

Season. August – November.

Similarity. With other small white talkers, which you should refrain from collecting.

Use. The mushroom is suspicious, in different sources it is designated as poisonous, inedible, non-poisonous. According to some reports, it contains muscarine.

The whitish talker in the photo
Whitewashed talker in the photo

The talker is whitish, the talker is bleached (Clitocybe dealbata). The cap is 2–4 cm in diameter, convex or flat, later funnel-shaped, often irregular in shape, with a sinuous, uneven edge. The skin is smooth, dry, with a slight powdery coating. The color is whitish, with faint grayish zones along the edge in the form of concentric circles formed when the plaque cracks, with buffy spots at maturity. The plates are adherent or descending, white or grayish, then cream. The pulp is thin, white, the taste is inexpressive, the smell is weak.

The stem is 2–4 cm high, up to 1 cm in diameter, cylindrical, slightly thickened towards the base, whitish or cream-colored, at first solid, later hollow.

Spore powder. White.

Habitat. In meadows, pastures, and forest grassy edges.

Season. Summer autumn.

Similarity. The mushroom is extremely similar to cherry (Clitopilus prunulus), which has a much stronger floury odor and whose blades acquire a pinkish tint when ripe.

Use. A very poisonous mushroom due to its high muscarine content.

Caution: if you have the slightest doubt, it is better to refuse to collect white talkers altogether.

Talker cracking in the photo
Reddish talker in the photo

Talkorushka cracking, Govorushka reddish (Clitocybe rivulosa). The cap is 2–5 cm in diameter, convex at first, later straightens out, depressed in the center, covered with a powdery white coating, which cracks as the cap grows, revealing the main color – cream or reddish-reddish. As a result, the surface is covered with unclear concentric zones. The plates are adherent, frequent, reddish-white, later creamy. The pulp is thin, the taste is inexpressive, the smell is inexpressive.

The stem is 2–4 cm high, 0.4–0.8 cm in diameter, the same color as the cap or reddish-brown, slightly felt-like at the base.

Spore powder. White.

Habitat. In forests, gardens, parks, often along paths, along the sides of ditches.

Season. From late summer to autumn.

Similarity. With other small white talkers, with edible cherry (Clitopilus prunulus), which has a floury smell and pink leaves.

Use. The mushroom is very poisonous.

Caution: do not collect small white talkers if you are not sure of the exact definition.

Red-brown talker in the photo
Hat with a diameter of 5–9 cm in the photo

The talker is red-brown. The cap is 5–9 cm in diameter, wide-funnel-shaped, red-yellow, reddish-brown or rusty-spotted, often hygrophanous. The plates are frequent, delapidating, cream or yellow-rusty. The pulp is thin, brittle, hard, reddish or fawn, the smell is sour, the taste is tart.

The leg is 3–5 cm high, up to 1 cm in diameter, reddish, lighter than the cap, hard.

Spore powder. White.

Habitat. In coniferous, less often deciduous forests.

Season. This is an autumn species that grows until frost persists.

Similarity. Similar to the waterspotted talker (C. gilva), growing in deciduous and coniferous forests, lighter in color and having watery spots on the surface; on the edible funnel talker (C. infundibuliformis), which has white plates.

Use. Previously, the red-brown talker and the water-spotted talker were considered edible, but later muscarine was discovered in them. Information in the literature about their edibility is very contradictory; moreover, their taste is mediocre, and therefore we do not recommend collecting these mushrooms.

Look at the photos of talker mushrooms, the description of which is presented on this page:

The gray talker belongs to the genus of talkers and to the Ryadkov family. Quite often, people also call it: gray talker, smoky or row.

The mushrooms received these names due to the smoky coating that accumulates on the surface of the cap. When visually examined they are usually gray.

Govorushka refers to a conditionally edible type of mushroom. Experienced mushroom pickers prefer not to collect this variety, since cases of severe poisoning have been reported due to improper preparation.

Description of the species

The description and photo of the talker allow you to have a clear idea of ​​the external properties of this variety.

Upon visual inspection, the following characteristic features of this type of mushroom can be identified:

The cap of an adult is quite large. It varies from 5 to 25 cm. The shape is presented in the form of a hemisphere with edges curved inward.

As the mushroom grows, it gradually straightens, having a convex base near the center of the stalk. During the rainy season, these mushrooms have a pronounced gray color.

On the surface of the cap there is a delicate skin on which a large number of leaves and spruce needles accumulate. With age, the amount of smoky plaque gradually decreases. The photo of talker mushrooms shows changes in the appearance of an adult mushroom.

The base of the stem has a cylindrical shape, which ensures tight fixation of the mushroom. The height is about 10-15 cm, and the diameter is about 5 cm.

The pulp of an adult mushroom has a fibrous structure. In the cap area it is more fleshy. This breed is highly hygroscopic. During rain, its weight significantly exceeds the permissible norm.

Under the cap there are plates that have a beige-gray tint.

The main disadvantage of these mushrooms is that they quickly collect all compounds of harmful metals.

Distribution of the species

Talker mushrooms prefer locations in areas with a temperate climate. Quite often, the whitish talker can be found in coniferous or mixed forests.

The main food element of this fungus is considered to be old and destroyed wood. This material contains the largest amount of nutrients.

For rapid growth of the talker, extreme humidity is required. That is why the fruiting process of this variety begins in the rainy season.

The ripening of planting material occurs from the beginning of September to the end of October.

Favorable weather can provoke a prolonged spread of fungal microspores. The unusual location and appearance of these mushrooms make it quite popular among novice mushroom pickers.

Quite often they form a cluster in the form of rings or clearings. This type of mushroom stands out from others.

The grayish talker has a great external resemblance to another, more dangerous mushroom - this is entoloma. Upon visual inspection, it really looks like a talker. The only difference is the thin pinkish spore plates and the denser flesh of the cap.

The amount of toxic substance contained in one mushroom exceeds the permissible limit by 5 times. Having consumed such a product as food, a person experiences severe intoxication of the body.

The fact is that sometimes not every mushroom picker can visually determine a safe option. Even in ancient times, in the process of preparing mushrooms, many housewives added a whole peeled onion.

If it turns blue at the end of cooking, then the container contains toxic compounds that can lead to severe poisoning. If the onion does not change its color, then the boiled product is completely safe for consumption.

Useful and negative qualities of a talker

These mushrooms contain a large amount of a natural, potent antibiotic - nerabulin. It is used to treat such serious diseases as pulmonary tuberculosis and inflammatory processes of the human respiratory system.

Frequent consumption of them can be the main cause of serious poisoning. A minimal amount of these mushrooms in the diet helps fill the body with useful substances and microelements.

Experienced mushroom pickers advise collecting them no more than once a month. The photo of talker mushrooms shows all the elements that make up an adult.

Photo of talker

Govorushka (the second name for clitocybe) is a special type of mushroom, since in the mushroom genus there are not only edible species, but also poisonous and even deadly ones. Most of them are quite difficult to distinguish, so you need to go collecting talkers only with an experienced mushroom picker.

General description of talkers

Clitocybe is a genus of cap mushrooms that belongs to the row family. This species is very often confused by its external characteristics with the genus Lepista or Leucopaxillus. People eat only safe varieties of mushrooms; they can be identified primarily by their color and aroma. They are bright in color and have a less pronounced tart odor.

Mushrooms get their name because they grow in groups and closely, as if they are talking to each other. The description of the talker begins with the parameters of the cap, plate, stem, pulp and ends with the features of the spore powder.

Talking mushrooms have caps of small and medium sizes, the diameter of which varies from 3 to 6 centimeters. It happens that there are specimens whose cap reaches 15 centimeters. The hemispherical shape of the cap is inherent in young mushrooms, but as they grow older, it becomes more even. Mature clitocybes have depressed caps, somewhat similar to a funnel.

If the climate is completely suitable for the mushrooms, their caps will be dry and smooth. They come in different colors: whitish, gray-brown, pink-brown, ocher. The color of the cap is uneven, becoming lighter from the center to the edge during the growth period.

The plates are located on the underside of the mushroom cap; they are white in color, but become yellow as the talker ages. The height of the leg depends entirely on the variety of clitocybe, the maximum is 8 centimeters. The diameter of the leg varies from 0.5 to 3 centimeters. The pulp is white, dense. As the talker ages, the pulp becomes looser and more crumbly. The spore powder is white or creamy white in color.

Clitocybe has a huge genus, which includes about 250 species of fruiting bodies. Some of them are very popular and are used for preparing various dishes for the purpose of quick weight loss and in medicine.

Talkers: benefits and harms

This type of mushroom has many beneficial properties because it combines plant and animal protein. , vitamins, active minerals - this is an incomplete list of what mushrooms are rich in. Properly prepared fruiting bodies will have a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system, strengthen the immune system, and reduce the likelihood of malignant formations and tumors.

You can cleanse and renew the entire body (remove toxins, heavy metal salts) with the help of Clitocybe. For vegetarians, these mushrooms are an indispensable product of the diet, because in terms of the total amount of nutrients and beneficial substances they are in no way inferior to meat products.

Some doctors and practitioners of traditional medicine use the pulp, stems and caps of edible fruiting bodies to treat diseases. Ointments and decoctions of clitocybe heal and disinfect wounds. Mushrooms are used to treat respiratory tract and bladder diseases.

Govorushka is a low-calorie product, the energy value of which is only 30 kilocalories (per hundred grams).

Almost all types of mushrooms are low-calorie, for example, 100 grams contain 27 kilocalories, 100 grams of mushrooms contain 9 kilocalories, but 100 grams of dried porcini mushrooms contain as many as 152 kilocalories. Govorushki are not just a low-calorie product, but also a very useful product for the human body.

Varieties of talkers that are considered edible cannot harm, but if you try inedible fruiting bodies, you are likely to get food poisoning. You should also remember that mushrooms should not be collected near roads and polluted areas, because they absorb and accumulate toxins from the external environment.

Edible talkers

Edible talkers include:

  • clubfoot (it can be eaten, but not in combination with alcohol);
  • fragrant (anise);
  • funnel-shaped;
  • bent (red-haired) and many others.

During the mushroom season, many mushroom pickers look for giant and orange talkers, as they are 100 percent edible and the dishes from them turn out to be delicious and nutritious.

The giant talker is edible and belongs to the genus of white freckles. Its cap is very large, ranging from 8 to 30 centimeters in diameter. The color of the cap is milky white or cream. The center of the cap is painted in darker shades and has a convex shape. The height of the leg is 4-7 centimeters, its shape is a cylinder. The pulp is dense, white, and has no distinctive aroma or taste. You can find the giant talker in North America, Europe and the Russian Federation. The period for collecting fruiting bodies falls at the end of August and ends in October. If good weather lasts until November, then mushroom pickers can find the mushroom this month.

Orange talker is considered a low-quality edible mushroom. Only fresh fruiting bodies are used for food, which are boiled for 15-20 minutes, then marinated according to your preferences. Mushroom pickers collect only the caps of young talkers; their legs are hard, and the mature fruiting bodies are completely tasteless. Their taste is similar to the smell of pine wood. You can collect orange mushrooms from the beginning of August until the end of October. Inhabits coniferous and mixed forest plantations in moss, on pine trees and on soil.

Clitocybe smoky (gray or smoky-gray) is a conditionally edible species of mushroom. In order to safely eat smoky talker, it is necessary to boil it; it is not advisable to use the broth for further preparation of any dish. Improper preparation can result in shortness of breath and food poisoning.

This mushroom surprises with its ability to boil down, but due to the floral aroma of the pulp, you can forgive the fruit for a small amount of it after cooking. Finding the smoky species in forest plantations is not difficult; the mushroom picking period begins in late summer and ends in late autumn.

Poisonous types of talkers

Particularly dangerous are whitish, grooved, leafy, inverted, weak-smelling and waxy talkers.

Whitish clitocybe is a mushroom that should not be collected or eaten. It has a small cap, slightly depressed. The color of the cap is pale red and pale gray at the edges. The pulp of the fruit attracts with a pleasant aroma reminiscent of a tomato. The fruiting body contains poison (muscarine). You can find the mushroom in Germany, France, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, and Portugal. Mushrooms appear in meadows and forests with coniferous trees from mid-summer to early autumn.

The waxy talker is poisonous, with a high concentration of poison. The hat is of medium diameter (6-8 centimeters), painted in dark white shades. The edges of the cap are wave-shaped and raised upward. The leg is low and identical in color to the cap. You can meet a dangerous species in the countries of Eurasia. Grows in forests near rotting leaves, wood and pine needles. Talkers form large groups and practically do not grow alone. You can see “colonies” of dangerous mushrooms from late summer until mid-November.

Mushroom diets

In order to go on a mushroom diet, in which the daily diet will consist of nutrients and talkers, you need to know in advance how to cook these mushrooms. The cooking method is simple. Fruit bodies must be cleaned of leaves, debris and other forest contaminants.

Then you need to rinse the mushrooms under running cold water. Pour the required amount into the pan so that it completely covers the nutritious talkers and add salt (1 teaspoon per 1 liter). When the water boils, set aside for 25-30 minutes and cook over medium heat. After such processing and preparation, the mushroom can be used in any diet.

Losing excess weight with the help of a mushroom diet is simple; this is possible due to the low talkers and their ability not to linger in the stomach. This food prevents fat deposits in the body. Nutritionists prescribe mushroom diets if there are no diseases of the kidneys, intestines, stomach or liver. This is due to the fact that the pulp contains a substance that is difficult to digest. Therefore, it is best to consult with a specialist before testing a new diet.

A mushroom diet with vegetables will help you get rid of extra pounds in a short period of time. You need to eat 400 grams of talkers per day and the same amount of any vegetables. You need to eat mushrooms in three doses. You are allowed to drink mineral water, juices, and a glass of rye kvass. For a variety of tastes, you are allowed to enjoy one or two teaspoons. The results of the diet will be noticeable after one and a half to two weeks.

A mushroom diet, in which mushrooms completely replace meat and become the main ingredient of dishes.

Daily diet

Breakfast: 200 grams of mushroom salad and 100 grams of stewed vegetables, 200 milliliters of green tea.

Snack: salad of 1 s and 1 teaspoon of honey, 200 milliliters of vegetable juice.

Lunch: stewed vegetables, boiled talkers and 200 milliliters of rye kvass.

Dinner: mixed mushroom salad, fresh vegetables, green tea with 1 teaspoon of honey.

Thanks to this diet, the body will cleanse itself of toxins and begin to burn fat. This is an effective dietary supplement that can see amazing results within 2-3 weeks.

Talker mushrooms are the most valuable type of mushroom; they are widely used in all spheres of human life. Low calorie content and a storehouse of vitamins and minerals make them indispensable assistants in cooking and dietetics. Beautiful and appetizing mushrooms will decorate any holiday table and delight you with their amazing taste and aroma.

Talker, or clitocybe, ( Clitocybe) is a genus of mushrooms that includes both edible and deadly poisonous cap mushrooms. Govorushka belongs to the department Basidiomycetes, the class Agaricomycetes, the order Agariaceae, the family Ryadkovaceae. Mushrooms from the genus similar in appearance are often mistakenly classified as talkers. Lepista or Leucopaxillus.

The origin of the name, which gave the Latin definition of the genus, is not fully understood. Some researchers associate it with the Greek word "κλιτύς", which translates as "hill" or "slope". What caused this comparison is unknown. The Russian name “govorushka” may have come from the fact that these mushrooms usually grow quite closely, in large groups, as if talking to each other.

Govorushka (mushroom) – photo and description

hat

The talker's hat is small or medium in size. Its diameter ranges from 3 to 6 cm, but there are specimens in which this figure reaches 10-15 cm. In young talkers, the cap has a hemispherical shape. As it grows, it levels out, and in mature mushrooms it often has a depressed shape, even funnel-shaped. Under normal weather conditions, the surface of the cap is dry and smooth. Its color can be whitish, grayish-brown, fawn, pinkish-brown, and even various shades of ocher. The color intensity is uneven, becoming lighter from the center to the edge of the cap. Often on its upper surface a mycelium residue is found, similar in appearance to mold spots.

Records

The plates located on the lower surface of the talker's cap are white and turn yellow as the mushroom ages.

Leg

The height of the talker's leg depends on the species of the mushroom and can reach 8 cm, and its diameter ranges from 0.5 cm to 3 cm.

Pulp

The pulp of the fruiting body is usually white, with a dense consistency, but as the mushroom ages it becomes loose.

Spore powder

Talker spore powder is usually white or creamy white in color.

Types of talkers, names and photos. Edible and poisonous talkers

The genus Clitocybe includes more than 250 species of talkers. About 60 species have been studied and described on the territory of the Russian Federation. There are both edible and deadly poisonous talkers, so this mushroom is recommended to be collected only by experienced mushroom pickers, since it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish between species.

Below is a description of several types of talkers:

  • Talker bent (red) ( Clitocybe geotropa, Infundibulicybe geotropa)

an edible mushroom with fleshy, bell-shaped caps, which later take the form of a wide funnel with thin, downward-sloping edges. There is a tubercle in the middle of the cap, which is clearly visible in young mushrooms and remains noticeable in mature fruiting bodies. The smooth skin covering the upper surface of the cap is yellowish-brown in color. As it ages, it fades to fawn tones with pronounced rusty spots. The white, dry pulp of dense consistency over time acquires a pale yellow color and has a characteristic faint almond odor. The pulp does not change color when cut. The leg is quite tall, slightly pubescent, has the shape of a cylinder with thickening towards the bottom, and is colored light yellow. In old mushrooms, it is practically no different in color from the cap. The frequent plates, strongly descending onto the stem, are less than a millimeter wide and painted in white or cream tones. Bent talkers grow in Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Russia, Belarus and other countries of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. Fruiting begins in the first days of July and ends at the end of October. It is found along the edges of paths, on forest edges and grassy clearings, in the depths of deciduous, coniferous or mixed forests on a litter of fallen leaves or mosses. Forms large clusters in the form of arcs, paths or so-called “witch circles”. Only the caps of young mushrooms are used for culinary processing, since the legs and fruiting bodies of adult talkers are unsuitable for food (they are heavy on the stomach and poorly digested).



  • Clitocybe gibba)

edible mushroom, the most common type of talker. The cap of an adult mushroom has the shape of a deep funnel with a diameter of about 10 cm with a thin sinuous edge. Its color can be brownish-fawn, yellow-ocher or reddish. The pulp is loose, white or slightly creamy in color with a pleasant almond aroma. The leg, smooth or with small longitudinal grooves, up to 6.5 cm high, has a cylindrical shape or slightly expanding towards the surface of the ground. Its color is practically no different from the color of the cap. The white flesh of the leg is tougher and has a rubber-like consistency. The often located narrow plates of the hymenophore are painted white or cream (depending on age) and descend quite strongly onto the stalk. Funnel-headed govorushka is widespread in coniferous and deciduous forests of the European territory of the Russian Federation, the North Caucasus, Western Siberia, as well as most European countries. Govorushka grows on forest edges, clearings and along roads. Only the caps of young mushrooms are used for culinary processing, since the legs and fruiting bodies of adult talkers are unsuitable for food.



  • Smelling talker (anise talker) ( Clitocybe odora)

edible mushroom. Thanks to the specific anise smell, this is one of the brightest and most recognizable species. The flesh of the mushroom is fleshy, pale gray with a greenish tint. In young mushrooms, the convex cap is bluish-greenish in color, over time it becomes grayish-yellow and has an almost flat surface with numerous deep depressions. The club-shaped leg, up to 8 cm long, has a significant thickening at the base. Its color matches the color of the cap, although it may be a little paler. The plates located on the lower surface of the cap are painted pale green and fall quite strongly onto the stem. The mushroom bears fruit abundantly from the first ten days of August to the second half of October. The fragrant talker grows in deciduous, mixed or coniferous forests of the European part of the Russian Federation, Western Siberia, Central and Eastern Europe.



  • Govorushka club-footed (club-footed) ( Clitocybe clavipes)

An edible mushroom, but if consumed with alcohol it can lead to poisoning. The cap is 4-8 cm in diameter, thick-fleshy, convex at first, then flat, blunt in the center or with a tubercle, sometimes conical, dark ash-gray, lighter along the edge, whitish, smooth. The leg is 3-6 cm long, cylindrical, swollen at the base, shaped like a club, monochromatic with a cap or whitish, fibrous. The flesh of the talker is ash-gray, with a pleasant mushroom smell and taste. The plates are descending, sparse, wide, initially white, later yellowish. The club-shaped talker grows in coniferous forests from July to October. Sometimes found in deciduous and mixed forests.



  • Leucopaxillus giganteus)

an edible mushroom that belongs to the genus white mushroom. It has a large cap with a diameter of 8 to 30 cm, milky white or cream color. In the center of the cap the color may be slightly darker. The shape of the cap is convex in a young mushroom, and then becomes depressed and funnel-shaped. The height of the whitish leg is 4-7 cm. The shape of the leg is cylindrical, there is no cover. The flesh of the giant talker is white and dense, and has no special aroma or taste. The hymenophore is lamellar, the plates descend onto the stalk and are white or cream in color. The giant talker grows in North America, European countries and Russia. Found from late August to October. In good weather, it bears fruit in November.



  • Clitocybe metachroa)

inedible mushroom, some sources classify the mushroom as poisonous. The shape of the talker's cap changes with age. The young mushroom has a slightly convex, almost flat cap. In old age, the cap becomes depressed and resembles a funnel with a curved edge and a surface covered with rather deep pits. Its diameter does not exceed 5 cm. The pulp is grayish or whitish in color, watery consistency, without a distinct odor. When dried, talker mushrooms acquire a persistent musty smell. The leg is hollow, low, cylindrical, 3-6 cm in diameter, gray or grayish-brown in color. The slightly expanded base of the leg has a whitish edge. Often located pale gray plates descend quite low on the stem. The pale-colored talker is widespread in Spain, France, Sweden, Italy, Belarus, Poland and other European countries. From the second ten days of August to the beginning of November, the slightly colored talker grows everywhere in Russia, starting from the European part and ending with the Primorsky Territory. The fungus feels most comfortable in fallen birch or oak leaves, although there are populations growing in mixed and purely coniferous forests. Unlike other representatives of the genus Clitocybe, which form quite large clusters, the pale-colored talker grows alone. However, isolated cases of the formation of “witch circles” were noted, in which there were more than a hundred fruiting bodies.



  • Smoky talker (gray talker, smoky gray talker) ( Clitocybe nebularis)

a mushroom that belongs to the conditionally edible category. Some scientists consider the mushroom to be poisonous. Eating smoky talker can cause serious disruptions in the digestive system due to the cytotoxic substance nebularin contained in the mushroom. The cap of the smoky talker is medium in size, up to 15 cm in diameter. Its color, depending on the weather, can be gray-brown, yellowish-brown or ash-gray. An easily removable grayish-whitish coating is often observed on the surface of the cap of young mushrooms. The white flesh of gray talkers is fleshy, dense in consistency, does not change its color when cut, and has a characteristic fruity or floral aroma. The pulp does not change color when cut. The club-shaped leg with a smooth or slightly fibrous surface has a length of up to 10 cm with a maximum thickness of 3 cm. In young talkers, the consistency of the pulp is quite dense. However, as they age, the fibrous-spongy substance that fills the stalk degenerates, and it becomes hollow. The white or slightly yellowish plates of the hymenophore are freely separated from the lower surface of the cap and stalk. Mass fruiting of the smoky talker lasts from the second half of August until the last ten days of November. This species is found in all types of forests in all countries of the northern hemisphere. Usually forms quite large populations in the form of long rows or “witch circles”.




  • Translucent talker (diatreta talker, cup-shaped talker) ( Clitocybe diatreta)

a poisonous mushroom with a small round cap of flesh-colored, nutty or ocher color, with a slight reddish tint. Its surface becomes slippery and sticky after rains. The thin, translucent edges of the cap are folded down. The fleshy pulp is whitish-fawn in color and can increase in volume at high humidity. Unlike most other talkers, the translucent talker does not have a pronounced odor. The stem is cylindrical, often tapering towards the base, and does not exceed 3.5 cm in length. Its surface, painted in light beige, fawn or red-brown tones, becomes darker as the mushroom ages. Straight plates have a width from 1 to 6 mm. They are colored creamy white and are partially attached to the stem. The translucent talker is widespread in Western Europe, North Africa and the countries of the former Soviet Union. In the Russian Federation it is found not only in the European part, but also in Western Siberia, the Caucasus and the Far East. The fruit bodies of translucent talker can be found from mid-spring to early autumn in coniferous and deciduous forests. The talker grows in large groups on infertile soils with a high sand content, forming rather long rows or arcs.



  • The talker is whitish (whitish) ( Clitocybe candicans)

This is a poisonous lamellar mushroom with a small (1 to 4 cm) flat or slightly depressed cap. The color of the cap is pale gray at the edges, pale red in the center, with a whitish, waxy coating that disappears as it ages. The pulp of the fruiting body has a pleasant smell, reminiscent of the aroma emitted by tomato leaves. Contains poison - muscarine. Often located plates of the hymenophore of a pale cream color descend along a cylindrical stalk, the height of which varies from 2 to 4 cm. The surface of the stalk can be either smooth or fibrous, and its color is light gray with a slight pink tint. At the base the color of the leg is grayish. The whitish talker is widespread in Germany and France, Poland, Romania, Spain and Portugal, Belarus, Russia, as well as other European countries. The talker is also found on the North American continent. White talkers grow in meadows, deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests on a nutritious substrate of fallen leaves or pine needles. Fruiting bodies appear in mid-summer and are found until September.



  • Waxy talker (leaf-loving, grayish) ( Clitocybe phyllophila)

poisonous mushroom from the genus of talkers. Contains a very high concentration of muscarine poison. The smooth cap has a diameter of 6-8 cm, is painted in off-white tones, its wavy edges are turned up. The low leg has a cylindrical shape, its color matches the color of the cap. A small thickening located at the base of the leg has a light white edge. Waxy talker is widespread in all countries of the temperate zone of the Eurasian continent. It can grow in both deciduous and coniferous or mixed forests, and is found in the litter of rotting leaves and pine needles. It hardly grows alone, usually forms large groups in the form of paths or circles. Fruits from early September to mid-November.



  • Clitocybe rivulosa)

a poisonous mushroom with a small cap (no more than 4 cm in diameter), changing its shape as it grows. Its color can be powdery white, pinkish-fawn, pinkish-brown or ocher. Often, adult talkers of this species have a thin powdery coating and grayish spots on the surface of the cap. The fleshy pulp has an elastic consistency and has a slightly sweet and pleasant aroma. The short thin leg of the talker has a cylindrical shape, somewhat tapering towards the base. In young mushrooms it is filled with dense fibrous material, however, in old talkers it becomes hollow. The hymenophore plates, 2 to 5 mm wide, colored whitish and later light yellow, descend rather low on the stalk. The fruiting season begins in the second half of July and lasts until the beginning of November. The reddish talker is found in forest clearings and edges, in places of industrial and sanitary felling, as well as in city parks. Usually forms large clusters in the form of “witch circles”. Reddish talker grows over a vast territory, which includes almost all European countries, North America, the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia, Primorye, China, etc.



Where do talker mushrooms grow?

The growing area of ​​talkers is very extensive and includes all countries of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. Talker mushrooms grow among meadows, fields and park areas. The genus forms stable mycorrhizae with deciduous or coniferous trees in forests of the European part of Russia, France, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Belarus, Spain and other European countries. Found in Western and Eastern Asia. Populations of talkers have been recorded in Turkey, China, and the Primorsky Territory. Some species grow throughout the North American continent.

Useful properties of talkers

Edible types of talkers are used to prepare soups, sauces, and are also consumed fried or stewed. The smoky govorushka can even be salted or dried. The fruiting bodies of mushrooms of this genus are used as low-calorie products, without which almost no professional diet is unthinkable.

  • The caps of young edible talkers contain B vitamins, as well as macro- and microelements, being real storehouses of copper, zinc and manganese.
  • The pulp of the talker helps remove accumulated toxins from the body.
  • The optimal ratio of plant proteins, vitamins, fiber, amino acids and minerals helps reduce the risk of various diseases. Talker mushrooms reduce the content of cholesterol plaques in blood vessels; eating them has a beneficial effect on the condition of the digestive system.
  • In addition, the antibacterial properties of talkers are used in folk and official medicine. Decoctions of talkers are used to relieve tuberculosis manifestations, and the substance they contain, clitocybin, is included in drugs for the treatment of epilepsy.

The harm of talkers

It should be remembered that talkers, like all mushrooms, are capable of accumulating various toxins and heavy metals in the pulp. Therefore, it is impossible to use talkers collected near industrial enterprises and highways for food, as this can lead to food poisoning.

Poisoning with poisonous talkers

The pulp of poisonous talkers contains quite a large amount of a strong toxin called muscarine. Symptoms of talker poisoning appear within a maximum of 3 hours:

  • disorder of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, expressed in severe nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and spasmodic contractions of the stomach and intestines;
  • dysfunction of the cardiovascular system, manifested by a sharp decrease in blood pressure and the occurrence of sinus bradycardia;
  • increased salivation and sweating;
  • difficulty in normal breathing, expressed in the form of bronchospasms or asthmatic manifestations;
  • The most dangerous poisonous mushroom of the genus Clitocybe is the leaf-loving talker, also known as waxy mushroom. Its pulp has a pleasant taste and smell. Often there are practically no symptoms of poisoning. However, on the fifth day, a person who has eaten these mushrooms may die due to kidney failure.

Poisoning with talkers usually has no effect on the nervous system. States of anxiety and unreasonable fear arise against the background of the general condition of the body. At the first signs of talker poisoning, you should immediately seek emergency medical help.

  • Some types of talkers, for example, the red talker (Clitocybe rivulosa), are capable of emitting a faint glow of pale green color in the dark.
  • Many types of talkers grow in groups that form peculiar circles on the surface of the earth. Previously, their appearance was associated with manifestations of evil spirits. It was believed that in such places witches or other evil spirits held their round dances at night.
  • Contrary to the centuries-old tradition of the Russian feast, govorushka mushrooms are not compatible with alcoholic beverages. Consuming them together can lead to severe food poisoning.