Lepista nuda
Wood Blewit
Status:
Common and Widespread
Chalice or Goblet shaped.
Cap:
Stem:
Meaning naked.
Description
A species that on first glance may not look like much, but once the underneath is seen it is rather a striking species. Younger specimens start a vivid lilac/purple but as they mature they become duller. The caps start off rounded before become flat and eventually slightly funnel shaped. Usually occur in groups.
Smell
Fragrant, faintly of aniseed. Aromatic, sometimes described as 'perfumed'.
Season
Autumn to Winter, but often still occurring well after the first frosts have appeared.
Habitat & Distribution
This is a saprobic species (living in or being an environment rich in organic matter) and occurs often in gardens, hedgerows, woodland and parks.
Edibility
Edible and good BUT must be cooked before eating. Younger specimens are best and care should be taken not to confuse them with poisonous Cortinarius species.
Confusion Species
Spores
6-8.5 x 4-5.5µm
Spore Print Colour
Pale pink, sometimes slightly buff coloured.
Care should be taken not to confuse this species with lilac or purple members of the Cortinarius (Webcaps) family. One of the easiest ways to check is that the Wood Blewit produces a pale pink spore print whereas the Cortinarius family produce a ginger spore print.
The Sordid Blewit (Lepista sordida) is very similar, though its colour is often more intense when young, it is slightly thinner and smaller compared to the Wood Blewit and the spores are slightly more elongated. It is just as edible if treated in the same way.
The Field Blewit (Lepista saeva) only has a violet/blue coloured stem, the gills and cap are not the same colour.
The Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) is much smaller and coloured amethyst all over.