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The Krause Glucke, also known as the "fat hen", is a popular edible mushroom. When searching, however, caution is advised, as there is a risk of confusion with other mushrooms, which can sometimes be poisonous.
In a nutshell
- the edible curled hen is a root parasite on conifers, especially Scots pine
- is often confused with the non-poisonous broad-leaved hen
- there is also a risk of confusion with corals and spiny-bearded ones
Curled hen (Sparassis crispa)
The Krause mother hen can be identified on the basis of various characteristics.
Happen:
- grows as a root parasite at the base of the trunk or on stumps of conifers
- especially on the Scots pine (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris)
- occasionally also on other types of pine, larch, spruce and Douglas fir
fruiting body:
- appear from July to December, especially in September and October
- 6 to 30 centimeters in diameter, maximum 50 centimeters
- yellowish to light brown color
- cauliflower-like structure with many branches
- gummy, brittle, morel-like, tough
Meat:
- whitish to light yellow
- tough, rubbery, brittle
stalk / stalk:
- fleshy, whitish base
- consists of individual strands
- cavities between the stalks
Odor:
- pleasantly aromatic
- spicy
Notice: The narrow curling and structure of the fruit body are considered to be the clear characteristics of the Krausen Glucke, that of a bath sponge resembles.
risk of confusion
mother hen (sparassis)
In Europe there is a risk of confusion with the edible broad-leaved hen. In this country it is the closest relative of the fat hen.
Broad-leaved hen (Sparassis brevipes)
Source: AL'S, Sparassis brevipes, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Happen:
- in beech-fir or oak-hornbeam forests
- Root parasite on deciduous and coniferous trees
fruiting body:
- from September to November
- in southern Germany from the end of July
- up to 100 centimeters in diameter
- whitish straw yellow twigs
- wide curled
Meat:
- white to white-yellowish
- elastic, tough, rubbery
stem / stunk:
- compact stem
- whitish
Odor:
- aromatic to soapy (especially when cooking)
Note: Compared to the Kraussen hen, the structure of the broad-leaved hen is less like a bath sponge.
Coral Mushrooms (Ramaria)
In the kingdom of mushrooms, there is a risk of confusion between the Krausen mother hen and various coral mushrooms. The fruiting bodies of corals usually form a short stalk that branches upwards into branches. The diameter of the individual visible branches is between 0.5 and one centimeter. Although the branches are very thin, the fruit body can reach a diameter of up to 25 centimeters. The height of the fruit body is between 15 and 20 centimeters. Therefore, there are the following fundamental differences in terms of appearance to the Krausen hen:
- smaller width
- Knots instead of curly structure
- clearly recognizable branch tips
- just a stalk
Coral mushrooms are not exactly easy to distinguish from one another. However, there are some species that are often confused with the fat hen.
coral species
Bellyache Coral (Ramaria mairei)
Source: Ramaria_pallida,_Lipik.jpg.webp: This image was created by user Vesna Maric (kalipso) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images.You can contact this user here. German | espanol | french | italiano | macedonian | മലയാളം | portugues | +/− derivative work: Natr (talk), Ramaria pallida, Lipik crop, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
As the name suggests, the bellyache coral is a toadstool. Gastrointestinal complaints that occur as a result of consumption set in after 30 to 90 minutes. In contrast to the fat hen, however, the bellyache coral prefers mixed forests, where it likes to grow under beech trees. It is rarely found in coniferous forests.
The color of the fruit body is pink. However, there are also specimens with a light yellowish or milky-coffee-brown colour, which optically puts the mushroom in the vicinity of the Krausen hen. The sour to soapy smell of the bellyache coral is clearly different.
Yellowing Coral (Ramaria flavobrunnescens)
The edible tawny coral grows in mixed forests but is not a root parasite. It can be confused with the Krausen Glucke, since the yellowish to yellowish-orange fruit body is similar in color to that of the Fette Henne. In addition, both mushrooms have whitish and brittle flesh. However, the smell is different, because the Ramaria flavobrunnescens has a slightly pungent scent that smells of cloves or bitter almonds.
Golden Yellow Coral (Ramaria aurea)
The golden yellow coral is edible. She grows in
- Coniferous forest under pines (similar to the Krausen hen) and
- in the deciduous forest under beeches.
In contrast to the fat hen, however, the fruiting body has a golden yellow color. It also smells grassy to tart woody.
Cockscomb (Ramaria botrytis)
The edible cockscomb coral grows in deciduous and mixed forests. There it is mostly found under beeches, sometimes also under oaks. Usually their fruit body is flesh-colored, but can also take on a dirty yellow-white. Therefore, this coral can be distinguished from the fat hen by its fleshy, firm and slightly marbled flesh.
Sulfur Yellow Coral (Ramaria flava)
The edible but extremely rare Sulfur Yellow Coral likes to grow
- in deciduous forests, especially in beeches,
- on calcareous soils and
- at spruces.
It has a spicy mushroom smell. The fruit body is yellow to golden yellow, fading sulfur yellow with age. In addition, its flesh is off-white and brittle.
Spiked Beards (Hericium)
The typical characteristic of the prickly beards are their drooping branches (thorns). Although these are shorter in younger specimens, they still lack the curly structure of the fat hen.
Coral Toothbrush (Hericium coralloides)
In contrast to the Krausen hen, the edible thorny beard grows on the trunks of rotten deciduous trees. Young specimens have a white fruiting body. With age, it turns a dirty yellow. This can lead to confusion with the fat hen. Therefore, when looking for mushrooms, you should pay particular attention to the structure.
Fir mane (Hericium alpestre)
The edible pine mane, as the name suggests, grows
- branches
- tribes
- stumps and
- deadwood
of conifers, especially silver fir and spruce. Its fruiting body is whitish-yellowish. Like the other spiked beards, it also lacks the typical structure.
frequently asked Questions
How heavy can the Krause hen get?The weight of a Krausen hen depends on its size. As a result, it can weigh between two and five kilograms.
Where in Germany is the fat hen particularly common?In principle, it occurs where there are pine forests. The fungus is widespread in the pine forests of eastern Germany. There, the fat hen is considered a harmful parasite.
How does the edible mushroom actually taste?Young, i.e. small, specimens of the Krausen mother hen have a spicy, mild taste. It is not recommended to eat older mushrooms as they taste bitter.