This golf ball sized mushroom starts out round and as it grows the cap flattens out
This interesting mushroom is hard to miss. There are not a lot of purple colored things in the forest. This golf ball sized mushroom starts out round and as it grows the cap flattens out. Knowing this, we can deduce that this is a younger viscid violet cort. Another way we know this is a young mushroom is because this species will develop yellow spots on the cap as it matures. We do not see these; thus, it is another indication that it is young. As this mushroom grows, it will max out at around 2.5” (diameter).
Viscid violet cort does not have a distinct taste or odor, however it is recommended people not eat this species. This is because there is a nearly identical species of mushroom called Cortinarius iodeoides that is not edible. In general, about 50% of all mushrooms are edible, about 20% will make us sick, and about 1% are lethal. One of the famous deadly mushrooms is the “death cap” mushroom. Eating just half of one of these mushrooms is enough to kill an adult! If you know what to look for, foraging and consuming mushrooms can bring you a variety health benefits. Some mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties and can help strengthen your immune system. Some mushrooms contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants such as vitamin D, B vitamins, niacin, and potassium.
Have you ever heard of matsutake mushrooms? They are considered a delicacy, especially in Japan. They are rare and cannot be cultivated like some other species of mushrooms. They grow in the wild in Japan, Korea, and China. “Matsutake” means “pine mushroom”, named for the pine forests they are found in. A pound of these mushrooms can cost anywhere from $40 to $2000! That is quite a range in price, why is that? It is more likely to find prices around $40 in the United States and more likely to find higher prices in Japan where it has a long history of being an elite ingredient.
To reproduce, mushrooms release spores. These spores are stored in the gills of the mushroom (under the cap). Some mushrooms are able to create their own wind to help disperse these spores. They will strategically release their moisture, allow it to evaporate and lift the spores upward.
To reproduce, mushrooms release spores
Did you know?
- All mushrooms are fungi, however not all fungi are mushrooms. Other fungi include yeasts, molds, and rusts.
- The entire viscid violet cort is covered in a sticky slime.
- This photo was taken in Brattleboro, Vermont during the summer. These mushrooms are common in the Eastern United States, however they can also be found in Central and South America.
- The Egyptian Book of the Dead describes mushrooms as “the food of the gods”.
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