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Fascinating Fungi

Lepista nuda and a poisonous  Australian look-alike, Cortinarius archeri

2/12/2014

5 Comments

 
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.


Picture of Cortinarius archeri
Cortinarius archeri
Picture of wood-blewits
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
Picture Cortinarius stem with rust  stained stemRust 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.

PictureBare stem of Lepista nuda











In contrast, the stem of Lepista nuda has no rusty stains.



Picture ofa young Cortinanus archeri fungiYoung 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.

Picture of The smooth, slightly rubbery cap of Lepista nudaThe 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.

Picture showing  the slimy cap of Cortinarius  archeri
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.
5 Comments
anustart link
12/4/2020 10:38:40 pm

I guess I just blue myself early.....

Reply
Mike G
23/10/2020 11:00:34 am

I sense a pun ^^^

Reply
Scarlett link
19/12/2020 01:51:04 pm

Great post thank you

Reply
Andy
9/1/2022 03:01:17 pm

Thanks, you made it easy to identify my specimen as Lepista nuda.

Reply
Indian Hookup Massachusetts link
30/12/2022 06:41:30 am

Thanks for tthis blog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Australian Fungi

    Australia is estimated to have 200,000 fungi species compared with only 6,000 European.  However, only about 12,000 Australian mushrooms have been identified  with  about 6,000 named and described. This website and Fungioz app are dedicated to  increasing knowledge of both known and unidentified Australian mushrooms.
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    I am not a mycologist  but have been fascinated by fungi  since childhood  sheep farm forays..   After moving  to the  northern edge of Australia's Otways National park I realised how many more wonderful species there are on  uncultivated  land..   I began photographing and researching and now sharing the ongoing results via FungiOz website and FungiOz app.  Fungi identification via field characteristics alone is tentative as are any suggested identifications in FungiOz app and website.

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