Sarah Brown
The gypsy mushroom, also known as cortinarius caperatus, is a highly regarded edible mushroom species. It has a complex identification process and is often mistaken for other inedible mushrooms. Gypsy mushrooms have a flat or bell-shaped cap that is initially grey-white and becomes wrinkled and brownish-ochre as it matures. They are found in the northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as temperate Asia, and prefer acidic and sandy soils. They grow in coniferous forests near hardwoods and shrubs and have a symbiotic relationship with trees, absorbing sugar created through photosynthesis. Gypsy mushrooms are considered a delicacy in some areas and can be used in various culinary dishes. However, it is important to accurately identify them before consumption to avoid any potential health risks.
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What You'll Learn
Gypsy mushroom identification
Gypsy mushrooms, or cortinarius caperatus, are edible mushrooms of the genus cortinarius. They are also known as wrinkled rozites, granny's nightcap, and rozites caperata. They are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with plants and trees around them.
Gypsy mushrooms have a flat or bell-shaped cap that is often wrinkled. The colour varies with maturity, ranging from grey to white in the early stages of development, then yellow, and eventually brown and ochre. The cap is covered with whitish fibres, and may have a lilac tinge when young. The mushroom is initially convex, then expands and flattens with a boss (umbo) in the centre. The stipe is thick, slightly swollen at the base, and whitish to beige with a whitish ring in the midsection. The partial veil is a key identifying feature. The gills are white in early growth stages and change over time, turning into a cinnamon brown. The spores are warty, almond-shaped, and produce an ochre-brown or rusty brown spore print. The flesh is cream-coloured, and the flavour is mild, with a hint of cinnamon.
Gypsy mushrooms can be found in northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as temperate Asia. They are often found in coniferous and beech woods in autumn, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn. In Europe, they are commonly found in Scandinavia, and are less common in Denmark, Iceland, and outside the Scottish Highlands and the New Forest in the British Isles. In North America, they are found as far south as Mendocino County on the west coast, and are uncommon in California. They grow in acidic and sandy soils, often near sphagnum moss, and may be found in the same habitats as bay bolete (Imleria badia), brown roll-rim (Paxillus involutus), and chanterelles. They form relationships with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and are often found under Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) or near huckleberry in North America.
It is important to correctly identify gypsy mushrooms, as they can be confused with inedible or poisonous mushrooms, such as Inosperma erubescens and Cortinarius traganus.
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Where gypsy mushrooms grow
Gypsy mushrooms (also known as C. caperatus) are found in northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as in temperate Asia. They are very rare in most parts of Britain and Ireland, but they can occasionally be found in northern Scotland, the Scottish Highlands, the New Forest, and the Caledonian Forest. In central Europe, they can be mistaken for the highly poisonous Inosperma erubescens in summer, and for the inedible Cortinarius traganus, which has an unpleasant odour.
In North America, gypsy mushrooms are found in the northern parts of the continent, as far south as Mendocino County on the west coast. They are uncommon in California. Gypsy mushrooms grow in coniferous forests near hardwoods and shrubs, and they can be found in coniferous and beech woods in the autumn, as well as in heathlands in the late summer and autumn. In North America, the mushrooms appear from September to November, and in July and August in Alaska. They can be found under Sitka spruce or near huckleberry. In Alaska, they grow with dwarf birch and American dwarf birch.
Gypsy mushrooms tend to grow in acidic and sandy soils, avoiding chalky soils. They may be found in the same habitats as bay bolete (Imleria badia), brown roll-rim (Paxillus involutus), and chanterelles. They form relationships with Scots pine. In Greenland, gypsy mushrooms grow in association with white birch.
Gypsy mushrooms are not typically considered beginner mushrooms, as their identification can be challenging. They have a buff to brownish-ochre cap, 5-12 centimetres in diameter, which is covered with whitish fibres. The surface has a wrinkled and furrowed texture and may have a lilac tinge when young. The stipe is 1-2.2 centimetres thick and is slightly swollen at the base, and whitish to beige with a whitish ring. The partial veil is a key identifying feature of the mushroom. The spores give an ochre-brown spore print. The flesh is cream-coloured, and the flavour is mild and nutty.
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What gypsy mushrooms look like
Gypsy mushrooms, or cortinarius caperatus, are edible fungi that grow in northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as temperate Asia. They are highly regarded by mushroom foragers.
Gypsy mushrooms have a flat or bell-shaped cap that can be wrinkled, with a diameter of 5–12 centimetres. The colour of the cap varies with maturity, ranging from grayish to whitish during the early stages of development, then turning more yellow, and eventually brown and ochre-coloured. The cap may also have a lilac tinge when young and a whitish ring in the midsection. The surface has a wrinkled and furrowed texture. The mushroom is initially convex, then expands and flattens with a boss (umbo) in the centre. The stipe is 1–2.2 cm thick and is slightly swollen at the base, with a whitish to beige colour. The partial veil is a key identifying feature of the mushroom.
The gills of gypsy mushrooms are white with a partial veil in the early growth stages, but they change over time, turning into a cinnamon brown. The spores are warty, almond-shaped, and range from 10–13 μm long to 8–9 μm wide. They give an ochre-brown spore print, which has also been described as cinnamon-brown or rusty brown. The flesh of the mushroom is cream-coloured, and the flavour is mild, with a spicy hint of cinnamon.
Gypsy mushrooms are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with the plants around them, which are very often trees. They can be found in coniferous forests near hardwoods and shrubs, as well as beech woods and heathlands. They prefer acidic and sandy soils and are often found with other mushrooms such as bay bolete, brown roll-rim, and chanterelles.
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When gypsy mushrooms grow
Gypsy mushrooms, or cortinarius caperatus, are edible fungi that grow in the northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as temperate Asia. They are highly regarded by mushroom foragers for their mild to nutty flavour.
Gypsy mushrooms grow in coniferous forests near hardwoods and shrubs, and their growing season extends from summer through to autumn. In conifer and beech woods, fruiting bodies sprout from August to October, while in North America, mushrooms appear from September to November. In Alaska, the growing season is shorter, with mushrooms appearing in July and August.
In central Europe, gypsy mushrooms can be mistaken for the highly poisonous Inosperma erubescens in summer, and for the inedible Cortinarius traganus, which has an unpleasant odour. In the British Isles, gypsy mushrooms are uncommon outside the Scottish Highlands and the New Forest. They are classified as vulnerable in Germany and Great Britain and endangered in the Netherlands.
Gypsy mushrooms are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with the plants around them, which are very often trees. They use their mycelium around the roots of a plant or tree to absorb sugar created through photosynthesis, and in return, the mushroom helps the plant absorb water and phosphorus.
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Edibility of gypsy mushrooms
Gypsy mushrooms, or cortinarius caperatus, are edible and considered a delicacy in some areas. They have a mild flavour and are said to mix well with stronger-flavoured fungi such as chanterelles, boletes, brittlegills, or milk-caps.
However, it is important to exercise caution when identifying and consuming gypsy mushrooms, as they can be easily confused with poisonous varieties. In central Europe, old specimens could be mistaken for the highly poisonous Inosperma erubescens in summer, and young mushrooms for the inedible Cortinarius traganus, which has an unpleasant odour. In addition, old specimens of the deadly poisonous death cap mushroom (Amanita phalloides) can also resemble the gypsy mushroom. Therefore, proper identification is essential before consuming any wild mushrooms.
Gypsy mushrooms can be identified by their flat or bell-shaped cap, which is initially convex before expanding and flattening with a boss (umbo) in the centre. The cap is covered with whitish fibres and has a distinctive wrinkled and furrowed texture, with a colour ranging from buff to brownish-ochre. The colour of the cap can vary with maturity, from grayish to whitish during the early stages of development to more yellow and eventually brown and ochre-coloured. The gills are white with a partial veil in the early growth stages, turning into a cinnamon brown colour over time. The stipe is whitish to beige with a thick white ring in the midsection, and the spores produce a rusty brown spore print.
Gypsy mushrooms are found in northern parts of Europe and North America, as well as temperate Asia. They typically grow in coniferous and beech woods in the autumn, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn. In North America, they are found in the same habitats as bay bolete (Imleria badia), brown roll-rim (Paxillus involutus), and chanterelles. They prefer acidic and sandy soils and are often found near specific types of trees, such as Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) or huckleberry.
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Frequently asked questions
The gypsy mushroom, or cortinarius caperatus, has a flat or bell-shaped cap that is wrinkled and ranges in colour from grayish to whitish during the early stages of development, to more yellow and eventually brown and ochre-coloured. The stipe has a thick white ring in the midsection.
Gypsy mushrooms are found in northern parts of North America and Europe, as well as temperate Asia. They grow in coniferous forests near hardwoods and shrubs, and can be found in coniferous and beech woods in the autumn, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn.
Gypsy mushrooms are mycorrhizal, meaning they form symbiotic relationships with plants and trees around them. They can be identified by their whitish fibrils, or bloom, on the cap, and their cinnamon-brown spore print. They are also known for their antiviral activity.
