”This late autumn saprotroph is a leaf rotter so generally pops up when it gets a bit colder. I’ve found these for the last two weeks and in the past I’ve found them into the new year. Looking beautiful with their purple/lilac gills that are inward sinuate (meaning roll in or out) to the stipe. When young the cap is rolled inwards hugging the close tightly packed gills.
GeorgeFlavour Fred
The solid stipe itself has a similar colour tapering down with close up textures that are beautiful. The cap having a more violet colour deeper to brown in the middle and with age the in-rolled cap flattens and the centre depresses. The aroma is strong mushroomy-ness and perfume like.
Care should always be taken and my posts are simply a steer …closer inspection and research should always take place. In this instance the webcap family (Cortinarius sp) have a similar structure although when young you can see the “web” around the cap which is a partial veil (Cortina meaning curtain) showing fibres connecting the rim to the stem like a web. Some are deadly (Cortinarius rubellus – deadly Webcap) and the other that looks most similar (Violet webcap – Cortinarius violaceus) is rare where I am based. Enough to avoid in my opinion.
Once totally happy the wood blewit is abundant. Forming in fairy rings very often and is delicious. The water content is high though so I often hard fry this mushroom and then use in many ways. This time round on a nice pastry bake.
