Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) photo and description

Shiitake Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)

Systematics:
  • Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
  • Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
  • Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
  • Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
  • Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
  • Family: Omphalotaceae (Omphalot)
  • Genus: Lentinula (Lentinula)
  • Species: Lentinula edodes (Shiitake)

or

Lentinus edodes

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)Shiitake Shiitake - (Lentinula edodes) for thousands of years, is the pride of Chinese medicine and cooking. In those ancient times, when the cook was also a doctor, shiitake was considered the best way to activate "Ki" - the inner life force circulating in the human body. In addition to shiitake, the category of medicinal mushrooms includes maitake and reishi. The Chinese and Japanese use these mushrooms not only as a medicine, but also as a delicacy.

Description:

Outwardly, the shiitake resembles a meadow champignon: the shape of the cap is umbrella-shaped, from above it is creamy brown or dark brown, smooth or covered with scales, but the plates under the cap are lighter.

Healing properties:

Even in ancient times, they knew that the mushroom significantly increases male potency, helps to lower body temperature, cleanses the blood and is a prophylactic agent against hardening of arteries and tumors. Since the 60s, shiitake has been subjected to intensive scientific research. For example, research results have shown that the consumption of 9 g of dry shiitake (equivalent to 90 g fresh) per week reduces cholesterol levels in 40 elderly people by 15% and in 420 young women by 15%. In 1969, researchers at the Tokyo National Research Center isolated the polysaccharide lentinan from shiitake, which is now a well-known pharmacological drug used in the treatment of immune system disorders and cancer.In the 1980s, in several clinics in Japan, patients with hepatitis B received daily for 4 months 6 g of a preparation isolated from the shiitake mycelium - LEM. All patients experienced significant relief, and in 15 the virus was completely inactivated.

In addition, the experience of some countries, for example the Netherlands, has shown that these Shiitake can be bred artificially far beyond their natural habitat.