The Bovist is a special mushroom that has special properties. In addition to its poison, it also holds many other secrets. If you step on the mushroom, it suddenly releases a cloud of dust. But is it poisonous or not?
Is Bovist's dust poisonous?
Bovist's dust isnon-poisonous. The released spores do not cause any side effects in humans or animals. It is a dried fruiting body that does not contain any poison. However, inhaling the dust should be avoided.
Why does the toxic dust escape from the Bovist?
Older bovists dry out over time and ultimately only adried out fruit shell remains. If you step on the mushroom remains, the remaining spores are pressed out of the shell and a yellow cloud of dust is created, which appears poisonous at first glance. However, this is completely harmless to he alth. However, you should not intentionally inhale the dust. The Bovist from the garden owes its name to this fact, which arose from the early New High German term for “fox fart”.
Do young Bovistas also spray toxic dust?
Young Bovistedon't spray dust because they haven't dried up yet. This is only possible for older Bovists. The fungus loses moisture over time. This causes the Bovist to slowly dry out. The decay can also be recognized by the clear change in color. The fungus turns brown inside and out and eventually dries up completely. This process ends with the fruit shell of the Bovist dried out and leads to the development of dust.
Are boviste edible despite the toxic dust?
Since the dust is only in the older bovista, eating a young mushroom is possiblesafelyBrown bovista are generally no longer edible and should therefore remain in nature. Pick only white mushrooms. These Boviste are edible and suitable for a variety of delicious meals.
Tip
Do not eat raw boviste raw, regardless of the toxic dust
Mushrooms should generally not be eaten raw. This also applies to the Bovist. Although it is not harmful to your he alth, you should still fry it well. In the worst case, eating a raw piece can lead to unpleasant, but not life-threatening, side effects. However, handle mushrooms carefully and check them to avoid mix-ups.