European Blusher
From Freepedia
| European Blusher | ||||||||||||||||
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| Image:Amanita rubescens.JPG European Blusher (Amanita rubescens) | ||||||||||||||||
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| Amanita rubescens (Pers. ex Fr.) Gray |
The European Blusher (Amanita rubescens) is a common species of mushroom of the large genus Amanita.
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Description
The European Blusher has a reddish-brown pileus (cap), usually elliptical, between 4 and 15 cm across and strewn with small cream-coloured warts. It is sometimes covered with a ochre-yellow flush which can be washed by the rain. The flesh of the mushroom is white, becoming pink when bruised or exposed to air.
The stipe (stem) is white with flushes of the cap colour, and grows to a height of between 6 and 14 cm. The gills are white and free of the stem, and display red spots when damaged.
The spores are white, ovate, amyloid, and approximately 8 by 5 µm in size.
The mushroom is often attacked by parasitic insects.
Habitat
It is common throughout much of Europe and North America, growing on poor soils as well as as in deciduous or coniferous woodland. It is in spruce forests that the largest specimens are to be found. The growing season is from summer to autumn.
Uses
Caution: The European Blusher can be confused with the similar Panther mushroom which is highly toxic. Do not rely on Wikipedia alone when identifying mushrooms for consumption.
It is edible when cooked but poisonous if eaten raw; the water it is cooked in should be regarded as toxic and discarded. The flavour is mild but has a faint acrid aftertaste. The smell is not strong.
The simularity to a poisonous species and the fact that it does itself contain toxins mean that it is advisable to avoid consumption altogether.
