Among the mushroom kingdom, there are many very unusual specimens, both in shape and color. Purple mushrooms are not uncommon, but their appearance makes them quite exotic forest dwellers. There are edible, conditionally edible, and inedible purple mushrooms, which every mushroom picker should be able to distinguish.
Edible types of purple mushrooms and their descriptions
Before heading out on a "quiet" hunt for such exotic mushrooms, you need to protect yourself from making a mistake. Knowing their names isn't enough; it's important to familiarize yourself with photos and descriptions of the fruits to understand what edible purple mushrooms look like.
Purple pezza
Peziza is a member of the genus of the same name. The mushroom has a small, cup-shaped fruiting body, 0.5-3 cm in diameter. This species typically lacks a stalk, as it belongs to the Discomycetes genus. However, a small pseudostem may be present. Peziza's surface is smooth, the inner surface of the Discomycetes genus is lilac, while the outer surface is pale and may have a grayish tint.
The mushroom's fragile, thin flesh has no distinct taste or smell. The flesh is lilac in color.
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The amethyst glaze mushroom belongs to the Trichophyceae family and the genus Lacidae. It is a small mushroom with a longitudinally fibrous purple stem and a cap whose shape changes as it develops. In immature specimens, the cap is hemispherical, later becoming flat. The gills are located directly beneath the cap and extend slightly down the stem. The rich color of the glaze mushroom fades and becomes paler with age.
The pulp is thin, has a purple color and a rather delicate taste.
Purple Cortinaria
Cobweb The purple cobweb cap is a rare member of its kingdom, belonging to the Cortinaceae family. The cobweb cap's cap changes shape as it grows. Initially convex and with drooping edges, it later becomes flat and covered with scales. The cap's diameter does not exceed 15 cm.
The spiderwort's thick stem, reaching 2 cm in width, thickens slightly toward the bottom. The upper portion of the stem is covered with small scales. Its length can range from 6 to 12 cm.
The flesh has a dense texture. In mature specimens, the blue flesh fades to almost white. When exposed to air after cutting, the flesh takes on brown hues. The wide, sparse gills of the cobweb cap appear veiled. The cobweb cap has virtually no odor, but has a pleasant nutty flavor.
Rowing mushroom with a purple cap and thick stem
Rowing Belongs to the genus Govorushka and the family Ryadovkovye. Ryadovka also has other names, such as blue tit, titmouse, and blueleg.
The blue tit is a rowan mushroom with a fairly large purple cap, 6-20 cm in diameter, and is considered a conditionally edible species. The cap of young blue tit mushrooms is convex and hemispherical with a downturned edge. As they mature, the cap becomes convex and spreading. The initially bright cap acquires an ochre hue as the fruiting body grows.
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The flesh of the bluehead mushroom is fleshy and dense. Later, the flesh softens and, like the cap, takes on an ochre-cream hue. The stem can reach 10 cm in length and 3 cm in width. The stem of the bluehead mushroom has a dense texture and a cylindrical shape. The surface of the stem, just beneath the cap, has a light, flocculent coating, and purple mycelium is located at the base.
Bluelegs have a specific taste and smell, which disappears after heat treatment.
Species that turn purple when cooked
When cooked, the goat mushroom, or lattice mushroom, acquires a lilac color.
The goat's tongue mushroom belongs to the genus Buttercup. The yellowish-brown cap of the goat's tongue mushroom ranges from 3 to 12 cm in diameter. Initially cushion-shaped, and later flattened, the cap has a smooth, sticky surface. In damp weather, the cap becomes covered in slime.
The cap's skin adheres so tightly that it either doesn't come off at all or only comes off in patches. The stem can be up to 10 cm long and only 2 cm thick. Unlike the cap, the stem is lighter and more matte, and its shape resembles a cylinder.
The pulp is quite elastic, but later becomes rubbery, and does not have a special smell or taste.
Distinction from false, inedible mushrooms
Inedible, poisonous species can also have a purple color. One such species is the false camphor mushroom, which contains muscarine toxins.
The round, brown cap has a lilac tint, which forms a brown spot when pressed. When cut, the flesh turns red and emits a camphor or coconut aroma. The clear juice secreted by the sieve mushroom should not be misleading.
The purple umbrella is also considered an inedible species, despite the fact that its fruiting body does not contain poisonous or other dangerous substances.
The purple-colored parasol is not eaten due to its specific bitter taste and unpleasant odor, which does not disappear even during heat treatment.
The purple cobwebcap can also be confused with the goat's cobwebcap, or stinking cobwebcap, which differs from its edible counterpart by its unpleasant acetone smell. The goat's cobwebcap is pale purple with a bluish tint. The stalk of the goat's cobwebcap has lilac bands.
The amethyst glaze mushroom also has a false doppelganger, known as Mycena pura. This hallucinogenic mushroom differs from the amethyst glaze mushroom by having white or slightly grayish gills and a radish-like aroma.
Where purple mushrooms grow in the Moscow region
The cobweb cap can be found in coniferous and deciduous forests near pine, birch, oak, beech, and spruce. In Russia, it grows in the Primorsky and Krasnoyarsk Krais, but recently, it has also been found in the Moscow region.
Purple glacier typically grows in well-drained soils in coniferous forests near moss. However, it can also be found in mixed and deciduous forests near oak trees.
Peziza, in turn, grows exclusively in areas after fires or bonfires and typically grows in large clumps. The mushroom is widespread not only in the Moscow region but also throughout Europe and North America, although even there it is quite rare.
You may be interested in:The Trichophyta is common in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, corresponding to Siberia and European Russia. It is a saprophyte and grows on decaying leaves, fallen needles, and compost heaps. It can be found in coniferous and mixed forests, and even in gardens. The Trichophyta tolerates the first frosts quite well, so it can bear fruit until November. Trichophyta most often grows in groups, and sometimes forms "fairy circles."
Useful properties and restrictions on use
The bluebell is rich in B vitamins, as well as manganese, copper, and zinc. This species is widely used not only in cooking but also in medicine, as the bluebell is used to produce antibiotics and antifungal agents.
In addition, bluehead lowers glucose levels and has anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects. Cortinaria has similar beneficial properties to bluehead, containing identical nutrients and trace elements.
Peziza, in turn, has a positive effect on visual acuity and thins the blood, thereby preventing varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. Peziza infusion is used to treat motion sickness. Peziza also contains a large amount of vitamin C, which boosts the human immune system.
People with gastrointestinal diseases should avoid overeating mushrooms. Those with severe conditions such as ulcers, gastritis, or pancreatitis should avoid them altogether. Children under 10 and pregnant women should also avoid this product, as it is difficult for the body to digest and absorb.
You may be interested in:Answers to frequently asked questions
Purple mushrooms are striking representatives of their kingdom, attracting enthusiasts of the "silent" hunt with their exotic appearance. But they possess not only a bright and memorable color but also numerous beneficial properties that are used in both folk and evidence-based medicine, as well as in cooking.
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