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Stropharia sky-blue is a conditionally edible species with an unusual, bright color. Distributed in deciduous forests throughout Russia. Grows singly or in small groups. Can be found from August to early November. To recognize this representative of the mushroom kingdom, you need to know the external characteristics and be able to distinguish them from their poisonous counterparts.
What does the stropharia sky blue look like?
Stropharia sky-blue is a beautiful representative of the Stropharia family. Since the species has a bright, unusual appearance, it is very difficult to confuse it with other species of the mushroom kingdom.
Description of the hat
A small cap of a sky-blue stropharia with a diameter of up to 8 cm, at an early age has a conical shape, eventually becomes curved. The surface is shiny, slimy, painted in a sky-emerald color. As it grows, the color fades, and whitish flakes appear at the edges from the bedspread, which covered the lamellar layer at a young age. The reproduction of the sky-blue stropharia occurs with microscopic brown spores, which are in a dark lilac powder.
Leg description
The straight oval leg has a fibrous pulp and grows up to 10 cm. In young specimens, the upper part is surrounded by a ring, which disappears with age. The surface is covered with light gray or sky green scaly flakes. Off-white pulp without pronounced taste and smell.
Is the mushroom edible or not
Stropharia sky blue is ranked among the 4th group of edibility. The harvested crop is thoroughly washed before use and boiled in salted water for 20-30 minutes. Then they can be fried, stewed or canned for the winter.
But since this specimen has no smell and taste, it has not found widespread use in cooking. Also, some sources claim that the fruiting body contains hallucinogenic substances, therefore, mushrooms are not recommended for pregnant women and children under 12 years of age.
Interesting Sky Blue Stropharia Facts:
- This representative of the forest kingdom is collected only in Russia and the CIS countries, in other states the mushroom is considered poisonous.
- Excessive use causes visual hallucinations and nervous agitation.
- Hallucinogenic properties are so mild that for their appearance it is necessary to consume about 1000 g of fresh mushrooms.
Where and how it grows
Stropharia sky-blue grows singly or in small groups from July to October. Loves moist soil or decaying grassy substrate, as well as damp rainy weather. It can be found in parks, along roads and in areas where livestock are walking.
Doubles and their differences
Stropharia sky-blue, like any forest dweller, has edible and inedible counterparts:
- Blue-green - the species is edible, prefers mixed forests. It can be recognized by a lighter hat and a small, powerful leg. The pulp without a pronounced mushroom taste, with mechanical damage, acquires a lemon color. It bears fruit during the whole warm period.
- Crowned - an inedible mushroom with a whitish dense pulp and a rare taste. This specimen grows on plains or small hills in single specimens. The mushroom has one feature - a change in the color of the cap (from light lemon to dark yellow) and plates (from light purple to black). If the mushroom somehow got into the basket, and then on the table, then mild food poisoning can occur. To help the victim in a timely manner, it is necessary to pay attention to the signs of intoxication (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cold clammy sweat, heart palpitations).
Conclusion
Stropharia sky blue is an edible species that prefers to grow in moist soil, among spruce and deciduous trees. Caps of young mushrooms are used for food, after boiling they are fried, stewed and harvested for the winter. In order not to be mistaken during mushroom picking, you must first familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the species from photos and videos.
