Emma Wilson
The Weeping Widow mushroom, or Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, is a species of fungus in the family Psathyrellaceae. It is commonly found in gardens, grassland, open woodland, lawns, fields, and roadside verges across the world. This mushroom has a unique appearance, with a yellowish to grayish cap, dark brown-purple gills, and inky black spores. The weeping in its name refers to the droplets of water that form on the edges of its cap during moist weather conditions. Despite its ominous name, the Weeping Widow is not a poisonous mushroom, although opinions vary on its edibility due to its bitter taste and reports of stomach upset. So, is the Weeping Widow mushroom psychedelic?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Weeping Widow |
| Scientific Name | Lacrymaria lacrymabunda |
| Colour | Yellow/Ochre Brown |
| Shape | Convex with a persistent central umbo (rounded bump) |
| Texture | Fine 'fibre' |
| Size | Medium |
| Cap Size | 4-12 cm wide, up to 8 cm wide |
| Stem Size | Up to 13 cm long, 1.5 cm wide |
| Gills | Dark brown/purple |
| Spore Print | Blackish-brown |
| Taste | Bitter |
| Edibility | Edible, but must be cooked soon after being gathered |
| Season | Late spring to autumn |
| Location | North America, Central America, Europe, Northern Asia, New Zealand, Gardens, Grasslands, Open Woodlands, Lawns, Fields, Roadsides |
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What You'll Learn
- Weeping Widow mushrooms are not poisonous but are edible
- They are medium-sized, yellow/brown mushrooms with a convex shape
- The mushroom gets its name from the droplets of water that form around its cap
- It is found in North America, Central America, Europe, Northern Asia, and New Zealand
- Weeping Widow mushrooms are not psychedelic
Weeping Widow mushrooms are not poisonous but are edible
The Weeping Widow mushroom, or Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, is a fascinating species of fungus commonly found in gardens, grasslands, open woodlands, and parks. Despite its ominous name, this mushroom is not poisonous and is, in fact, edible. However, its bitter taste makes it unappealing to some palates.
The Weeping Widow mushroom earned its name from the black, watery droplets that form at the rim of its cap and on the edges of its gills during moist weather conditions, resembling tears. This feature also gives rise to its scientific name, Lacrymaria, which means "producing tears." The specific epithet "lacrymabunda" further emphasizes this trait, indicating an abundance of tears.
While the Weeping Widow is not toxic, it is important to exercise caution when consuming wild mushrooms. Some individuals have reported developing stomach upset after eating this particular species. Therefore, it is always advisable to properly identify mushrooms before consumption and cook and eat them soon after gathering to ensure optimal freshness and avoid any potential adverse effects.
In terms of appearance, the Weeping Widow mushroom has a yellowish to grayish cap, sometimes with orange hints in the center, and can be up to 8 centimeters wide. The gills are initially yellow-brown but darken to brown-purple as the mushroom matures. The stem can reach up to 13 centimeters in length and 1.5 centimeters in width. The spore print of this mushroom is blackish-brown.
The Weeping Widow mushroom is widely distributed, occurring in North America, Central America, Europe, northern Asia, and New Zealand. It favors disturbed ground in woodland areas, gardens, and parks. Its season typically spans from late spring to autumn, making it a relatively common find for mushroom enthusiasts during this period.
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They are medium-sized, yellow/brown mushrooms with a convex shape
The Weeping Widow mushroom, or Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, is a medium-sized, yellow/brown mushroom with a convex shape. It is commonly found in gardens, grasslands, open woodlands, lawns, fields, roadside verges, and parks. The mushroom gets its name from the black, watery droplets that appear at the cap's rim and on the edges of the gills when they are moist, resembling tears. The cap is yellowish to grayish, with a width of up to 8 centimetres, and sometimes has an orangish centre. As the mushroom ages, the initially rounded cap flattens out, and the brown centre becomes darker. The gills are dark brown or purple, and the stem can be up to 13 centimetres long and 1.5 centimetres wide.
While the Weeping Widow mushroom is not poisonous, its bitter taste makes it unappetizing to some. However, it is edible and can be cooked in butter or deep-fried, and served with a sweet pickle to counteract the bitterness. It is important to cook and consume these mushrooms soon after gathering, as they tend to turn into a black, soggy mess if left for too long.
The Weeping Widow mushroom is not psychedelic. It is a member of the Psathyrellaceae family, which includes the brittlestems (Psathyrella) and some inkcaps (Coprinus). This mushroom is commonly found in North America, Central America, Europe, northern Asia, and New Zealand.
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The mushroom gets its name from the droplets of water that form around its cap
The Weeping Widow mushroom, or Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, is a fascinating species of fungus that gets its name from the unique way it interacts with water. The mushroom's cap is yellowish to grayish, sometimes with a hint of orange in the centre, and can be up to 8 centimetres wide. It often has a fibrous or wool-like appearance, with fibres running from the centre to the edges of the cap.
The "weeping" aspect of its name refers to the mushroom's tendency to form droplets of water around its cap. During moist or damp weather conditions, the Weeping Widow exudes droplets of water, giving it the appearance of "weeping" or shedding tears. This phenomenon is likely due to the structure and texture of the cap, which can retain moisture and form droplets.
The mushroom's scientific name, Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, further reinforces the idea of weeping or producing tears. The generic name Lacrymaria is derived from the Latin word "lacryma," meaning tear, and indicates the mushroom's tendency to form tears or droplets of water. The specific epithet, lacrymabunda, emphasizes this trait, suggesting an abundance of tears.
The Weeping Widow is commonly found in gardens, grasslands, open woodlands, fields, and roadside verges. It is native to North America, Central America, Europe, northern Asia, and New Zealand, favouring disturbed ground in woodland areas, gardens, and parks. While it is considered edible, some people have reported stomach upsets after consuming it. Its bitter taste also makes it unappealing for culinary purposes.
Despite its ominous name, the Weeping Widow is not poisonous. However, it is important to properly identify mushrooms before consumption, as consuming certain wild mushrooms can have harmful or toxic effects. The Weeping Widow's distinctive "weeping" characteristic, along with its unique appearance and habitat, make it a fascinating species in the world of fungi.
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It is found in North America, Central America, Europe, Northern Asia, and New Zealand
The Weeping Widow mushroom, or Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, is a species of fungus found in North America, Central America, Europe, Northern Asia, and New Zealand. It gets its common name from the black, watery droplets that form on the rim of its cap and on the edges of its gills when moist, resembling tears. This large grassland fungus can be found in parkland, open woodland, lawns, fields, and roadside verges, often growing on disturbed ground.
In terms of its appearance, the Weeping Widow mushroom has a yellowish to grayish cap, sometimes with orange hints in the center, and is up to 8 centimeters wide. The stem can be up to 13 centimeters long and 1.5 centimeters wide. The gills start as yellow-brown but turn dark brown-purple with a light edge that turns black with the release of spores. The spores themselves are blackish-brown.
The Weeping Widow mushroom is reported to be edible, but some individuals have experienced stomach upset after consuming it. It is important to cook and eat this mushroom soon after gathering, as it tends to turn into a black soggy mess if left for too long. While not poisonous, its bitter taste makes it rather unappealing as a culinary ingredient.
The scientific name Lacrymaria lacrymabunda was established by French mycologist Jean Baptiste Francois (Pierre) Bulliard in 1785. The generic name Lacrymaria means "producing tears," while the specific epithet lacrymabunda emphasizes the abundance of tears produced by this fungus.
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Weeping Widow mushrooms are not psychedelic
Weeping Widow mushrooms (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda) are not psychedelic. They are, in fact, edible, though they have a bitter taste. They are commonly found in gardens and parks, and their distinctive feature is the droplets of water that form around the edges of their caps during moist weather conditions, giving them their name.
The Weeping Widow mushroom is a medium-sized yellow/ochre brown mushroom with a convex shape and a persistent central umbo (rounded bump). The fibres on the cap run from the centre to the edges, where they can hang and give the edge of the cap a woolly fringe. The gills are initially yellow-brown but gradually turn dark brown-purple, and the spores are inky black.
The mushroom's scientific name, Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, reflects its tendency to produce an abundance of 'tears'. The generic name Lacrymaria means producing tears or crying, and the specific epithet lacrymabunda indicates the abundance of tears produced by this fungus.
While the Weeping Widow mushroom is not poisonous or psychedelic, it is important to accurately identify mushrooms before consuming them, as consuming certain wild mushrooms can have severe health consequences. Additionally, some individuals have reported developing stomach upset after eating the Weeping Widow mushroom, so it is advisable to consume any mushroom, including this one, in moderation and with caution.
In summary, the Weeping Widow mushroom, despite its dramatic name and appearance, is not psychedelic. It is a unique and interesting species of fungus that has captured the curiosity of many mushroom enthusiasts and mycologists alike.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the weeping widow mushroom is not psychedelic. It is, however, edible but has a bitter taste.
The weeping widow mushroom is a medium-sized yellow/ochre brown mushroom with a convex shape and a persistent central umbo (rounded bump) with a fine ‘fibre’ texture. As it matures, the cap flattens out and the brown centre darkens. The gills are dark brown/purple, and the mushroom has inky black spores.
The weeping widow mushroom can be found in North America, Central America, Europe, northern Asia, and New Zealand. It grows on disturbed ground in woodland, gardens, parks, grassland, open woodland, lawns, fields, and roadside verges.
