John Miller
Blue cap mushrooms, also known as blue roundheads, are a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the family Strophariaceae. They are commonly found in Europe and North America, growing in meadows, roadsides, hedgerows, gardens, and woodchip mulch. The scientific name for this species is Stropharia caerulea, and it is characterised by its blue-green caps with white scales near the rim. While they are not generally considered edible, they are nonetheless sought after for their distinctive appearance. Another variety of blue-capped mushrooms is the indigo milk cap (Lactarius indigo), which is identified by its indigo blue cap and blue latex. This variety is edible and sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Indigo milk cap, indigo milky, indigo lactarius, blue lactarius, blue milk mushroom, blue roundhead, pixie's parasol, blue oyster mushroom, wavy cap, potent psilocybe, blue meanies |
| Scientific Name | Lactarius indigo, Stropharia caerulea, Psilocybe cyanescens, Pleurotus columbinus |
| Cap Colour | Indigo blue, silvery blue, grayish blue, greenish-blue, cyan-blue, blue-grey, blue-green, pale blue-green, yellowish-bluish green |
| Cap Diameter | 4-15 cm, 0.3-1 cm (Lactarius indigo), 2-7.5 cm (Stropharia caerulea), up to 3/4 inch (pixie's parasol), up to 11 inches (blue oyster mushroom) |
| Cap Shape | Convex, bell-shaped, spherical, broadly vase-shaped, broadly convex, flat |
| Cap Texture | Sticky, slimy, glutinous, smooth, shiny, viscid |
| Gills | Blue, pale purplish-brown, dark brown, white to whitish-grey |
| Stipe | 2-8 cm, 3 inches tall (Lactarius indigo), short-lived annular zone, smooth, fibrous and scaly, tapering towards the base |
| Flesh Colour | Bluish, greenish, whitish, colourless |
| Taste | Mild to slightly acrid |
| Edibility | Edible, non-edible, toxic |
| Distribution | Eastern North America, Southwestern North America, East Asia, Central America, Southern France, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Chile, Asia, Europe |
| Habitat | Deciduous and coniferous forests, meadows, roadsides, hedgerows, gardens, woodchip mulch, mulched plant beds, lignin-rich substrates |
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What You'll Learn
- Blue-cap mushrooms are often referred to as 'blue roundheads'
- They are also called 'indigo milk caps'
- They are edible mushrooms sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico
- Blue-cap mushrooms are larger than typical 'shrooms'
- They are often found in eastern and southwestern North America, East Asia, and Central America
Blue-cap mushrooms are often referred to as 'blue roundheads'
Blue-cap mushrooms, or blue roundheads, are scientifically known as Stropharia caerulea. They are characterised by their greenish-blue caps, sparsely covered in white flecks of veil at the margin, and a sticky, glutinous surface texture. The caps are initially bell-shaped, then flatten and turn paler from the centre as the mushroom matures. The gills on the underside of the cap are initially pale purplish-brown, becoming darker brown as the mushroom ages.
Blue roundheads are a species of mushroom-forming fungus in the family Strophariaceae. They are somewhat common and can be found in Europe, North America, Southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile. In Europe, they have been spotted in Sweden, France, Portugal, Slovenia, Britain, and Ireland. They grow as saprophytes in meadows, roadsides, hedgerows, gardens, and woodchip mulch.
Blue roundheads are not generally considered a good edible species. While they are not known to be dangerously poisonous, some Stropharia species can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. In the USA, it has been claimed that this mushroom may contain significant amounts of the toxic hallucinogens psilobin and psilocybin. However, research has shown that most Stropharia species do not contain detectable amounts of psilocybin.
Another type of blue-cap mushroom is the pixie's parasol (Mycena cyanescens), which is found in Southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile. These mushrooms are tiny, with caps measuring up to 3/4 inch across. They are initially spherical, then become broadly convex as they mature, with a slightly depressed centre. The fruiting body is sticky when fresh, and the margin of the cap fades in colour as it matures while the centre remains vividly cyan blue.
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They are also called 'indigo milk caps'
Blue cap mushrooms, also called indigo milk caps or Lactarius indigo, are a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. They are characterised by their indigo blue to silvery-grayish blue colouration, with the cap surface being indigo blue when fresh and fading to a paler grayish or silvery blue as it matures. The margin of the cap is rolled inwards when young, but unrolls and elevates with age. The cap has a diameter of 4-15 cm, while the stem is 2-8 cm tall.
The indigo milk cap is a widely distributed species, naturally growing in eastern and southwestern North America, East Asia, and Central America. It has also been reported in southern France. These mushrooms grow on the ground in both deciduous and coniferous forests, forming mycorrhizal associations with a variety of trees.
When the mushroom tissue is cut or broken, it exudes a milk or latex that is also indigo blue but slowly turns green upon exposure to air. This feature is common to all members of the genus Lactarius, and the latex is where the mushrooms get their name from. The gills of the indigo milk cap are vividly blue, especially in young specimens, and they produce a blue milky latex when pressed or cut.
The indigo milk cap is considered edible and is sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico. However, it is also believed by some mycologists to be a species complex, with multiple nearly identical-appearing species falling under the Lactarius indigo name.
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They are edible mushrooms sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico
Blue cap mushrooms, or Lactarius indigo, are a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. The mushrooms are commonly known as the indigo milk cap, indigo milky, indigo lactarius, blue lactarius, or blue milk mushroom. The fruit body color ranges from dark blue in fresh specimens to pale blue-gray in older ones. The milk, or latex, that oozes when the mushroom tissue is cut or broken is also indigo blue, but it slowly turns green upon exposure to air. The cap has a diameter of 4–15 cm (2–6 in), and the stem is 2–8 cm (3⁄4–3+1⁄8 in) tall. It is a widely distributed species, growing naturally in eastern North America, East Asia, and Central America, including southern France. L. indigo grows on the ground in both deciduous and coniferous forests, where it forms mycorrhizal associations with a broad range of trees.
Lactarius indigo is an edible mushroom sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico. In China, it is one of 13 Lactarius species sold at rural markets in Yunnan in southwestern China. In Mexico, individuals harvest the wild mushrooms for sale at farmers' markets, typically from June to November; they are considered a "second-class" species for consumption. L. indigo is also sold in Guatemalan markets from May to October.
In terms of taste, American mycologist David Arora considers Lactarius indigo a "superior edible," while a field guide on Kansas fungi rates it as "mediocre in quality." It may have a slightly bitter or peppery taste and a coarse, grainy texture. The firm flesh is best prepared by cutting the mushroom into thin slices. The blue color disappears with cooking, and the mushroom becomes grayish. Because of the granular texture of the flesh, it does not lend itself well to drying.
Lactarius indigo was first described in 1822 as Agaricus indigo by American mycologist Lewis David de Schweinitz. The species was later transferred to the genus Lactarius in 1838 by the Swedish taxonomist Elias Magnus Fries. German botanist Otto Kuntze called it Lactifluus indigo in his 1891 treatise Revisio Generum Plantarum, but the suggested name change was not adopted by others.
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Blue-cap mushrooms are larger than typical 'shrooms'
Blue-cap mushrooms, also known as indigo milk caps, are larger than typical shrooms. Scientifically known as Lactarius indigo, they are a species of agaric fungus in the family Russulaceae. The cap of this mushroom has a diameter of 4–15 cm (2–6 in), while the stem is 2–8 cm (3⁄4–3+1⁄8 in) tall. The fruit body colour ranges from dark blue in fresh specimens to pale blue-grey in older ones.
The margin of the cap is rolled inwards when young but unrolls and elevates as it matures. The cap surface is indigo blue when fresh but fades to a paler grey or silvery blue, sometimes with greenish splotches. The flesh is pallid to bluish in colour and slowly turns greenish after being exposed to air. The latex exuded from injured tissue is indigo blue and also stains the wounded tissue greenish.
Another variety of blue-cap mushroom is the Stropharia caerulea, commonly known as the blue roundhead. The cap diameter of this variety measures 2–7.5 cm (0.8–3.0 in). The colour of the cap ranges from pale blue-green to yellowish-bluish green, with a whitish zone around the margin that invariably has bluish-green tints.
Blue-cap mushrooms are also found in southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile, where they are known as the pixie's parasol. These mushrooms are tiny, with caps measuring up to 3/4 inch across. The caps are initially spherical and then become broadly convex as the mushroom matures.
The blue oyster mushroom (Pleurotus columbinus) is another variety of blue-cap mushroom that is cultivated worldwide. The cap of this mushroom can reach up to about 11 inches across when fully mature.
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They are often found in eastern and southwestern North America, East Asia, and Central America
Blue-capped mushrooms are a reference to a variety of mushrooms. One of the most well-known blue-capped mushrooms is the Lactarius indigo, also known as the indigo milk cap, indigo milky, blue lactarius, or blue milk mushroom. This species of agaric fungus is found in eastern and southwestern North America, East Asia, and Central America. It is also occasionally reported in southern France. L. indigo grows on the ground in both deciduous and coniferous forests, where it forms associations with a broad range of trees.
The fruit body color of L. indigo ranges from dark blue in fresh specimens to pale blue-gray in older ones. The milk or latex that oozes from the mushroom when it is cut or damaged is also indigo blue, but it slowly turns green upon exposure to air. The cap of this mushroom has a diameter of 4-15 cm, and the stem is 2-8 cm tall. The margin of the cap is rolled inwards when young but unrolls and elevates as it matures. The cap surface is indigo blue when fresh but fades to a paler grayish- or silvery-blue, sometimes with greenish splotches.
Another variety of blue-capped mushroom is the Stropharia caerulea, commonly known as the blue roundhead. This species is found in Europe and North America, particularly in alkaline areas of humus-rich beech woodland. The caps of these mushrooms are greenish-blue with white scales near the rim, and they have a sticky, glutinous surface texture. The gills on the underside of the cap are initially pale purplish-brown but darken as the spores mature.
In addition to these two varieties, there are several other types of blue-capped mushrooms, such as the pixie's parasol found in southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile, and the blue oyster mushroom (Pleurotus columbinus), which occurs naturally in temperate forests globally.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue cap mushrooms, or blue shrooms, are mushrooms that turn blue when touched or picked. There are several types of blue cap mushrooms, including:
- Lactarius indigo, commonly known as the indigo milk cap, which is edible and sold in rural markets in China, Guatemala, and Mexico.
- Stropharia caerulea, commonly known as the blue roundhead, which is not generally considered edible and may contain toxic hallucinogens.
- Pixie's parasol, a blue mycena mushroom found in southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Chile.
- Blue oyster mushroom (Pleurotus columbinus), which is cultivated worldwide and occurs naturally in temperate forests.
Blue cap mushrooms have a range of appearances, from indigo blue to silvery or grayish blue, to greenish-blue with white flecks, to blue-grey. The caps may be spherical, bell-shaped, or convex, and they may have a central depression. The gills of some blue cap mushrooms, such as the Lactarius indigo, are a vivid blue and produce a blue latex when cut or bruised.
Blue cap mushrooms can be found in various parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. They grow in different types of forests, including deciduous and coniferous forests, and in meadows, roadsides, hedgerows, gardens, and woodchip mulch.
Some blue cap mushrooms, such as the Lactarius indigo, are edible and sold in markets. However, other blue cap mushrooms, such as the Stropharia caerulea, may contain toxic hallucinogens and are not recommended for consumption. It is important to properly identify any mushroom before consuming it.
