Laura Smith
Mushrooms come in a variety of colours, and their cap colours can be a significant characteristic for identification. For example, the tooth fungus group is characterised by their tooth-like projections on the underside of their caps and can have caps ranging from brown to orange to yellow. The colour of mushroom caps can also change as the mushroom matures; the Lactarius indigo species has a cap that is indigo blue when fresh but fades to a paler grey or silver-blue as it ages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common colours | Brown, orange, yellow, grey, black, white, beige, indigo blue, silvery blue, grayish blue, greenish blue, purple, light yellow-brown |
| Shape | Convex, funnel-shaped, flat with a central umbo, smooth, nipple-shaped, conical, bell-shaped |
| Texture | Smooth, fibrous, waxy, slimy, sticky, viscid, glutinous, dry |
| Additional features | Gills, gills that run down the stem, blunt forked ridges, rings on the stem, tooth-like projections, spore prints, volva, bulb at the base of the stem |
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What You'll Learn
- Lactarius indigo is an edible mushroom with a blue cap
- The colour of the mushroom cap varies with hydration
- Some mushrooms have caps that are brown, orange, or yellow
- The Mexican liberty cap is similar in appearance to Psilocybe semilanceata
- Melanoleuca mushrooms have caps in shades of white, beige, or brown
Lactarius indigo is an edible mushroom with a blue cap
Mushroom caps can vary in colour and shape. They can be brown, orange, yellow, golden yellow, grey, black, white, beige, or even blue. Some mushrooms have blunt, forked ridges instead of gills, while others have tooth-like projections on the underside of their caps. Lactarius indigo, also known as the "blue Lactarius", is a type of mushroom with a blue cap. This distinctive feature makes it easily recognisable. The specific epithet "indigo" is derived from the Latin word for "indigo blue". The mushroom's common names include "indigo milk cap", "blue milk mushroom", and "indigo Lactarius".
The flesh of Lactarius indigo is pallid to bluish in colour, gradually turning greenish when exposed to air. Its taste is mild to slightly acrid, and the texture is brittle. The stem, if bent with sufficient force, will snap cleanly. The latex exuded from injured tissue is also indigo blue and stains the wounded area greenish. Lactarius indigo produces less latex than other Lactarius species, and older specimens may be too dried out to produce any at all.
The species Lactarius indigo was first described in 1822 as Agaricus indigo by American mycologist Lewis David de Schweinitz. In 1838, it was transferred to the genus Lactarius by Swedish botanist Elias Magnus Fries. The mushroom develops from a nodule that forms within the underground mycelium, a mass of thread-like fungal cells called hyphae. When the environmental conditions of temperature, humidity, and nutrient availability are favourable, the visible reproductive structures, or fruit bodies, form.
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The colour of the mushroom cap varies with hydration
The colour of a mushroom cap can vary depending on its hydration levels. For instance, the cap of the Psilocybe semilanceata mushroom varies in colour from ochre to pale brown to dark chestnut brown when moist, with a greenish-blue tinge in the centre. However, when the cap dries, it becomes a much paler light yellow-brown. The moisture content of this mushroom variety has been measured at 951 mg/g.
The Lactarius indigo mushroom also exhibits colour variation due to hydration. Young caps are sticky and indigo blue, but as they mature, they fade to a paler grayish or silvery-blue, sometimes with greenish splotches. The gills of this mushroom are also initially indigo blue but become paler with age or turn green when damaged.
Tooth fungi, which are characterised by tooth-like projections on the underside of their caps, can range in colour from brown to orange to yellow. The colour variation within this group may also be influenced by hydration levels, as some mushrooms become darker when moist.
Additionally, mushrooms in the Melanoleuca genus are commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and wooded areas. They have smooth caps that are often flat with a central umbo and appear in shades of white, beige, or brown. The colour of these caps may also vary with hydration, as some mushrooms darken when moist.
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Some mushrooms have caps that are brown, orange, or yellow
Mushroom caps can be found in a variety of colours, and some mushrooms have caps that are brown, orange, or yellow. Tooth fungi, for example, often have a fleshy, funnel-shaped cap and can range in colour from brown to orange to yellow. These mushrooms are characterised by their tooth-like projections on the underside of their caps, rather than the traditional gills.
Mushrooms in the Melanoleuca genus are medium to large-sized fungi commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and wooded areas. They have smooth caps that are often flat with a central umbo, and these caps can appear in shades of white, beige, or brown.
The mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus, often called "oyster mushrooms", are characterised by their broad, fan-shaped, or oyster-shaped caps. On the other hand, the Cantharellus variety of mushroom has a golden yellow cap.
While some mushrooms have caps that are brown, orange, or yellow, there are also mushrooms with caps of other colours, such as grey, black, or blue. The Craterellus mushroom, for example, has a cap that is grey or black, and the Lactarius indigo has a cap that is indigo blue when fresh, fading to a paler grayish or silvery-blue as it matures.
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The Mexican liberty cap is similar in appearance to Psilocybe semilanceata
Mushrooms come in a variety of colours, ranging from brown to orange to yellow. Some mushrooms have caps that are white, beige, or brown, while others are golden yellow or grey.
The Mexican liberty cap, or Psilocybe mexicana, is a species of mushroom that is similar in appearance to Psilocybe semilanceata. Psilocybe semilanceata is commonly known as the liberty cap and is native to Europe and subtropical regions. It is one of the most widely distributed psilocybin mushrooms and is known for producing the psychoactive compounds psilocybin, psilocin, and baeocystin. Psilocybe semilanceata has a distinctive conical to bell-shaped cap, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, with a small nipple-like protrusion on top. The cap is yellow to brown when moist and fades to a lighter colour as it matures. The gills are initially cream-coloured but turn purple to black as the spores mature. The spores are dark purplish-brown and ellipsoid in shape.
The Mexican liberty cap, on the other hand, is found in subtropical grasslands in Mexico, specifically in manure-rich soil. While the physical characteristics of its appearance are not readily available, it is safe to assume that it closely resembles Psilocybe semilanceata in terms of shape and colour. This assumption is based on the fact that the Mexican liberty cap is a part of the Psilocybe genus, which is known for producing hallucinogenic mushrooms with similar physical characteristics.
It is important to note that attempting to consume wild mushrooms, especially hallucinogenic ones, can be dangerous due to the possibility of misidentification with toxic species. There have been reported cases of individuals mistaking poisonous mushrooms for Psilocybe semilanceata, resulting in serious health issues. Therefore, it is crucial to properly identify mushrooms before consumption and to be aware of the legal status of psilocybin mushrooms, which varies worldwide.
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Melanoleuca mushrooms have caps in shades of white, beige, or brown
Mushrooms come in a variety of colours, from the typical browns and whites to more unusual shades of yellow, orange, purple, and even black. The colour of the mushroom cap can be a significant characteristic for identification. For example, the caps of mushrooms in the Agaricus genus are usually white, while the Agrocybe genus has brown spore prints and caps that range from yellow-brown to tan.
The Melanoleuca genus of mushrooms is particularly interesting in terms of cap colour. While the name, derived from the Ancient Greek words "melas" (black) and "leucos" (white), might suggest a black-and-white cap, this is not typically the case. Melanoleuca mushrooms, also known as cavalier mushrooms, usually have caps in shades of white, beige, or brown. The specific epithet "polioleuca" further emphasises this, with "poli-" meaning grey or hoary and "leucos" meaning black, suggesting a hoary greyish-black tone.
These mushrooms are medium to large-sized and are commonly found in grasslands, meadows, and wooded areas. They have smooth caps that are often flat with a central umbo, and fibrous stems that lack rings or volvas. The gills underneath the cap are whitish, providing a contrast to the upper surface's various shades of brown, beige, or white.
While Melanoleuca mushrooms are reported to be edible, they are notoriously difficult to identify. As such, it is recommended that they should not be collected for food, as even mushrooms that do not taste bad can be very dangerous. It is always important to properly identify mushrooms before consumption to avoid any potential health risks.
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Frequently asked questions
The Lactarius indigo mushroom cap is indigo blue when fresh, but fades to a paler grayish- or silvery-blue as it matures.
The Psilocybe Mexicana mushroom cap is brown, with a greenish-blue tinge when moist, and a light yellow-brown when dry.
The Craterellus mushroom cap is grey or black.
The Cantharellus mushroom cap is golden yellow.
The Melanoleuca mushroom cap comes in shades of white, beige, or brown.
