Lepista nuda, known as the wood blewit mushroom, is a choice edible mushroom providing it is very well cooked. It is regarded as having been introduced to Australia. Lepista nuda is a reasonably substantial mushroom with palish purple cap, stem and gills. The nuda part of its scientific name refers to the mushroom's totally smooth cap. However, those tempted to try eating Lepista nuda had better be sure that they haven't got the poisonous Australian mushroom, Cortinanus archeri, in the pan.
 Cortinarius archeri |  Lepista Nuda |
Can you tell which of these two mushrooms is edible and which is the poisonous look-a-like?
The colour of the two can be very similar especially in dry weather. Both start out as quite purple and fade to buff colour over time. Both have smooth cap surfaces that look similar when dry and both appear ringless.
Stem Differences
 Rust coloured spore stains on the Cortinarius archeri stem The most immediate difference is on the stem. Cortinanus archeri has the rust brown spores that characterise Cortinarius fungi. Though it doesn't have a ring, in reasonably mature specimens there will be rusty spore and cortina stains in place of a ring. |  Bare stem of Lepista nuda In contrast, the stem of Lepista nuda has no rusty stains. |
Young Cortinarius archeri Similarities & Differences when young.
Both mushrooms begin with a fairly swollen base and convex cap and both have solid pale lilac tinged flesh.
Being a Cortinarius, archeri's cap is initially attached to the stem via a web known as a cortina. However, as shown in this photo of a young Cortinarius archeri, the web can easily be mistaken for a ring.
Both mushrooms begin with a fairly swollen base and convex cap and both have solid pale lilac tinged flesh.
Being a Cortinarius, archeri's cap is initially attached to the stem via a web known as a cortina. However, as shown in this photo of a young Cortinarius archeri, the web can easily be mistaken for a ring.
 The smooth, slightly rubbery cap of Lepista nuda Cap Differences. The cap of Lepista nuda is smooth and slightly greasy to rubbery in texture but not slimy. | As shown in the young specimen as well as this one, the surface of Cortinarius archeri is shiny and slimy in damp or wet conditions.  The slimy cap of Cortinarius archeri |
Smell. The edible Lepista nuda has a lovely sweet and strong smell all of its own. Cortinarius archeri has no smell.
Spore Print colour: The spores of Cortinarius archeri are copious and rust coloured whereas the spore print of Lepista nuda is a pinkish buff colour.
A last warning. Before deciding to cook up a mushroom you have decided is Lepista nuda, keep in mind that if it is not very well cooked it will have toxins that can damage red blood cells. So, the wisest choice is look, smell, enjoy but don't eat.
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