Summer mushrooms: first milkcaps, chanterelles, boletes spotted in forests
Rainy conditions following warm weather in late June have resulted in mushrooms already cropping up in Estonian forests, including chanterelles, russulas, boletes and even some early red hot milkcaps.
Urmas Kõljalg, a professor of mycology at the University of Tartu's Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, told ERR that the red hot, or rufous, milkcaps already seen growing have come in relatively early this year.
"These mushrooms are growing because we are currently experiencing cooler and more humid conditions," Kõljalg said. "If this weather persists, then we may see a lot of these milkcaps in the near future."
The professor explained that Estonian forests are currently seeing typical midsummer mushrooms, such as chanterelles, russulas and boletes. He believed that, based on current weather conditions, the country can expect a good mushroom season this year.
"Most of our edible mushrooms are dependent on trees; they have symbiotic relationships with tree roots," Kõljalg said. "These trees generally exhibited no signs of drought, so our mushrooms should do just fine."
-
Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update!
Editor: Aili Vahtla