Laura Smith
Mushrooms come in a variety of colours, and while most people think of them as brown, they can also be green. The colour of a mushroom can help identify whether it is poisonous or not. For example, the false parasol or green-spored parasol mushroom (Chlorophyllum molybdites), which is poisonous and causes mushroom poisoning, can be identified by its greenish gills. Another mushroom with a greenish hue is the blue-green stropharia, or verdigris agaric, which is found in lawns, mulch, and woodland. In addition, green is associated with mushroom mould, which can cause significant yield losses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Blue-green stropharia, verdigris agaric, green-spore poison parasol mushroom, false parasol, green-spored parasol, Morgan's Lepiota |
| Scientific Name | Stropharia aeruginosa, Chlorophyllum molybdites |
| Cap Colour | Vivid blue/green, white to brown |
| Cap Diameter | 2–8 centimetres (3⁄4–3+1⁄4 in) wide, 1.8 to 11.8 inches |
| Gills | Free from the stem, broad, closely spaced, white to yellow in young specimens, turning greyish, then green to greenish-brown |
| Stem | White, long, uniform thickness, 2 to 10 inches long, 0.6 to 1 inch thick |
| Spore Print Colour | Green |
| Habitat | Lawns, mulch, woodland, grassy woods, roadside verges |
| Edibility | Poisonous |
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What You'll Learn
- Some mushrooms are green, like the Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia
- Green-spored parasol mushrooms, Chlorophyllum molybdites, are poisonous and have greenish gills
- Green mold, caused by Trichoderma, affects mushroom crops and results in extensive green sporulation
- Mushrooms are sometimes classified as 'green' or 'brown' in composting, depending on their nitrogen/carbon ratios
- Live mushrooms are neither green nor brown, but the quantic mushroom is both
Some mushrooms are green, like the Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia
Stropharia aeruginosa was given its current binomial name by French mycologist Lucien Quélet in 1872. It was initially described as Agaricus aeruginosus by William Curtis in 1784. Later, in 1995, Dutch mycologist Machiel Noordeloos placed it in the genus Psilocybe. The specific epithet "aeruginosa" is derived from the Latin word for "covered in verdigris".
The edibility of this mushroom is a subject of debate. Some sources claim that it is edible, while others assert that it is poisonous. However, the effects of consuming this mushroom and its toxic constituents are not well understood.
Stropharia aeruginosa is commonly found in grassy woods and on roadside verges in Britain, Europe, Asia (including Iran), and parts of North America. It particularly favours wood-chip mulches in gardens and parks. This mushroom grows on rotting wood and is often found on wood-chip mulches.
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Green-spored parasol mushrooms, Chlorophyllum molybdites, are poisonous and have greenish gills
While mushrooms are typically associated with the colour white, some mushrooms do exhibit shades of green. One such example is the green-spored parasol mushroom, scientifically known as Chlorophyllum molybdites. This mushroom species is characterised by its large cap, which can reach diameters of up to 10-30 cm, and its distinctive greenish gills, which are not attached to the stem. The gills are white initially but gradually turn greenish as the spores mature.
Chlorophyllum molybdites, commonly referred to as the "'false parasol'" or "green-spored parasol," is a highly poisonous mushroom. It is, in fact, the most frequently ingested poisonous mushroom in North America and the leading cause of mushroom poisoning in the United States. This mushroom is prevalent in Florida, the southeastern United States, and lawns and pastures throughout the country, except for the Pacific Northwest.
The greenish gills of mature Chlorophyllum molybdites caps are the most visually distinguishing feature. The caps themselves are whitish to brown and often adorned with concentric circles of pinkish-brown to chocolate-brown scales. The base of the stem is slightly swollen, and a prominent, movable ring with a fringed margin is present closer to the cap. This ring is typically white or brownish and may start off white before darkening with age.
The green-spored parasol mushroom is notorious for causing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, which can occur within 1 to 3 hours of consumption. It is easily confused with edible mushrooms due to its unremarkable odour and typical "mushroomy" taste. Ingesting this mushroom raw can lead to even more severe symptoms, such as drowsiness, bleeding from the gut, and significant fluid and electrolyte loss. Blue discolouration of the lips, tongue, and fingernails may also occur as a result of poisoning.
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Green mold, caused by Trichoderma, affects mushroom crops and results in extensive green sporulation
Mushrooms come in a variety of colours, including green. One such example is the Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia or verdigris agaric. This mushroom is medium-sized, slimy, and found on lawns, mulch, and woodland.
However, when discussing green mushrooms, it is important to consider the impact of green mould, caused by Trichoderma, on mushroom crops. Trichoderma is a pathogenic fungus that affects edible mushroom production, leading to significant crop losses. The disease is characterised by dense white mycelial growth, followed by extensive green sporulation. This sporulation can turn into black patches uncolonised by mushroom mycelium, resulting in reduced yield.
More than 30 species of Trichoderma are known pathogens of mushrooms, including T. viridae, T. harzianum, and T. polysporum. The fungus often appears in the early stages of mushroom cultivation, particularly during the spawning run period, and causes extensive damage. Green mould epidemics have occurred in Europe, America, and Asia, leading to economic losses for mushroom producers.
To control Trichoderma and prevent green mould, mushroom growers employ various disinfection treatments on lignocellulose substrates. These treatments include sterilisation, immersion in hot or alkalinized water, steam sterilisation, steam pasteurisation, and chemical treatments. However, even with these measures in place, contamination can still occur during handling or spawning.
The conventional approach for identifying Trichoderma involves culturing and observing morphological characteristics, but this method has disadvantages, including being time-consuming. More recent molecular approaches, such as nucleic acid (NA)-based methods, have been developed to detect Trichoderma and prevent the spread of green mould disease.
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Mushrooms are sometimes classified as 'green' or 'brown' in composting, depending on their nitrogen/carbon ratios
Mushrooms themselves are not typically green, but they can sometimes exhibit green mold or have green spores. Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia, is a medium-sized green, slimy woodland mushroom. Chlorophyllum molybdites, also known as the green-spored Morgan's Lepiota, is a poisonous mushroom with greenish spores that is commonly found on lawns in North America. While the cap is typically white to brown, the gills are white to yellow in young specimens, turn a greyish colour as they mature, and then become green to greenish-brown.
In composting, mushrooms are sometimes classified as green or brown depending on their nitrogen/carbon ratios. Green materials have high nitrogen content and are usually moist and green in colour, while brown materials are typically dry and carbon-rich. Mushrooms can be classified as green waste due to their high nitrogen content. However, they can also be classified as brown waste as they are a form of organic matter that can be composted.
Green waste includes items such as grass clippings, vegetable scraps, and coffee grounds, while brown waste includes items like dead leaves, branches, and cardboard. It is important to maintain a balance of green and brown waste in composting to ensure an adequate supply of nitrogen and carbon for the composting process.
Mushrooms have a high nitrogen content, which is beneficial for compost as it helps to promote the growth of microorganisms that break down organic matter. However, excessive nitrogen can also be harmful as it can lead to the production of ammonia, which can damage plants. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the right balance of green and brown waste to ensure the success of the composting process.
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Live mushrooms are neither green nor brown, but the quantic mushroom is both
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They come in a variety of colours, including white, brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, and creamy. However, blue, green, and red mushrooms are rare.
Indeed, green mushrooms are so rare that, historically, green mould has been a significant issue for mushroom farmers. Green mould is characterised by dense white mycelial growth followed by extensive green sporulation of the fungus. In the early 1990s, a new strain of green mould, Trichoderma harzianum biotype 4 (Th4), caused a green mould epidemic in Pennsylvania, resulting in crop losses ranging from 30 to 100%.
Despite the rarity of green mushrooms, there are some species that exhibit green characteristics. Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia, or verdigris agaric, is a medium-sized green, slimy woodland mushroom, found on lawns, mulch, and woodland from spring to autumn. The edibility of this mushroom is controversial; some sources claim that it is edible, while others claim it to be poisonous.
Another green mushroom is Chlorophyllum molybdites, commonly known as the green-spored Morgan's Lepiota. This mushroom is the most frequently eaten poisonous mushroom in North America and is responsible for the greatest number of mushroom poisoning cases in the continent. Its greenish spores are a key characteristic that distinguishes it from other mushroom species.
While live mushrooms are neither green nor brown, the quantum mushroom is an exception. The quantum mushroom is a theoretical concept that describes a specific type of wavefunction that exhibits quantum behaviour. In this context, "green" and "brown" refer to the probability distribution of the wavefunction, with green representing a low probability and brown representing a high probability. Thus, the quantum mushroom is both "green" and "brown" in the sense that it exhibits a range of probability distributions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several species of green mushrooms, including Stropharia aeruginosa, commonly known as the blue-green stropharia or verdigris agaric. It is a medium-sized, green, slimy woodland mushroom found on lawns, mulch, and woodland from spring to autumn.
The edibility of green mushrooms is controversial. While some sources claim that Stropharia aeruginosa is edible, others maintain that it is poisonous or unpalatable. Additionally, the green colour of some mushrooms may indicate the presence of potentially harmful chemicals. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution when consuming any wild mushroom, including green varieties.
Identifying mushrooms requires an understanding of their macroscopic structure and microscopic features. In addition to its green colour, Stropharia aeruginosa can be identified by its convex cap, which broadens and becomes umbonate with age, ranging from 2 to 8 centimetres in width. It has a long, white stem of uniform thickness with a fragile brown or black ring. The gills are initially white, then turn clay-brown, sometimes with a white edge. The spore print of Stropharia aeruginosa is brownish-purple, while other green-spored mushrooms like Chlorophyllum molybdites have greenish spore prints.
