"Baran": mushrooms of amazing appearance

In our forests there are many miracles, one of which is a mushroom, called "ram". He got his name for an unusual appearance, which really really reminds the "hair" of this pet.

What is the Latin name for the "ram"? These mushrooms are called Grifola frondosa (Grifola curly).

The time of its "vegetation" is from the end of August to the end of September. However, in the southern latitudes it can be found in the forest even in the middle of November. He is famous for his craving for deciduous trees, especially often growing at the foot of old oaks.

That's only the trees of joy from this little: the ram (these mushrooms, by the way, are delicious) grow very quickly, causing numerous diseases of wood. Most often white rot occurs.

But the mass of the fungal body is amazing: especially large ones weigh 10 kilograms! It should be noted that this is not one large formation, but multiple undulating hats whose long legs emerge from the same base. Up to 80 sprouts can have one such "ram"!

These mushrooms are edible and even tasty (as we already said), but they should be placed on a frying pan only at the youngest age.

By the way, biologists insist that their name does not correspond to reality. If you have ever seen corals in your life, you will agree that the name "mushroom coral" would suit him much more. In addition, you can see a similarity to the head of cauliflower, whose structure is almost the same.

Forced to disappoint you: if you go to the forest with the hope of personally seeing the mushroom ram, you should be morally ready for a long and completely fruitless search. This amazing representative of the mushroom breed is not in vain included in the Red Book. You can see it only occasionally.

In addition, the period of its growth is extremely unstable. Even if in one year in the forest was full of "sheep", then the next season can be completely empty.

If you are determined to see this miracle of nature with your own eyes, you should at least approximately know where the ram grows most often. These mushrooms can be found on hemp deciduous trees.

We already wrote that he "respects" the oak, but it develops well on linden and maple wood. If a tree is weak and sick, it can choose its place of residence and it.

In this regard, I would like to say that the "sheep" is often called mushrooms, which are similar to it. So, Sparassis curly, which is sometimes called "mushroom cabbage", is very similar in appearance, but grows only on the hemp of coniferous trees.

However, they are all similar at least to the fact that they are listed in the Red Book. Of course, there are few reasons for pride. This is due to the excellent nutritional qualities of "lamb". It can be salted, marinated and dried, and also eaten raw. But the real delicacy of Grifola is curly, being extinguished in sour cream.

Thus, the mushroom "sheep" (the photo of which is in the article), being an original and very interesting species, was on the verge of extinction, so it is not necessary to collect it, but it is better to photograph only.