Cultivation Level: Moderate
Wood blewit mushrooms, Clitocybe nuda, are captivating for mushroom cultivators due to their striking color and adaptability. This guide provides an overview of how to grow wood blewit mushrooms, including their appearance, identification, and cultivation techniques.
Appearance and Identification
- Cap: The cap is lilac to purple, fading with age. It is 5 to 15 cm in diameter.
- Gills: The gills are vibrant lilac to lavender blue when young, turning a more subdued hue with age.
- Stem: The stem is slightly swollen at the base and lilac in color.
- Spore Print: Dusty pink.
The cap, gills, and stem exhibit purple hues, although the cap tends to fade to tan as it matures. The gills remain attached to the stem and maintain some of their violet coloring even when mature.
To cultivate these mushrooms, use sawdust spawn instead of grain spawn, as birds eat it before it has time to spread in the garden. The mycelium of wood blewits is purple. It starts off as white and then turns purple, and it is fascinating to watch them change color.
Ecology
- Family: Tricholomataceae
- Genus: Clitocybe
- Species: nuda
- Common Names: Wood Blewit, Field Blewit
Culinary Uses
Blewits are highly esteemed for their culinary applications, though they must be cooked prior to consumption due to their mild toxicity when raw. Once cooked, blewits reveal a unique flavor and aroma, often characterized as fruity or floral. They are versatile in the kitchen, pairing well with ingredients such as onions, coconut milk, and mild-flavored nuts.
Wood Blewits (Clitocybe nuda) Flavor Profile
• Distinctive Taste: Wood blewits offer a robust, earthy flavor with a subtle sweetness, making them a flavorful addition to various dishes. They pair exceptionally well with ingredients like garlic, leeks, or onions.
• Comparison to Other Mushrooms: Unlike many mushrooms that are primarily known for their umami, or savory taste, wood blewits possess a distinct taste often described as slightly perfumed or floral. This sets them apart from more commonly consumed mushrooms, like button mushrooms, which have a milder flavor.
• Cooking and Preparation: Wood blewits are highly adaptable in culinary applications. They can be sautéed, added to soups, or incorporated into cream sauces. Cooking enhances their flavor, making them a popular choice for those seeking a more intense mushroom taste. – They also pair well with pale meats, cheese, rice, and pasta dishes. They must not be eaten raw as they can cause indigestion.
• Culinary: Due to their pronounced flavour, wood blewits are frequently used to complement other ingredients, adding depth and complexity to dishes. They are especially popular in European cuisine and can be preserved in olive oil or vinegar for future use.
Ecological Role
Ecologically, Clitocybe nuda is saprotrophic, meaning it feeds on decomposing organic material. This role makes it an important part of the ecosystem, aiding in the breakdown and recycling of nutrients from dead plant matter.
They are known to produce fairy rings.
Medicinal Properties
Recent studies have explored the potential medicinal properties of Clitocybe nuda. Extracts from the mushroom have shown antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Additionally, research indicates that it may have immunological effects, such as activating dendritic cells, which could have implications for cancer therapy and vaccination.
When to Plant or start Wood Blewit Mycelium patch ?
Wood blewits are typically planted in the autumn or spring when temperatures are cooler. Here, the temperatures are perfect for the colonization stage, a phase where they spread and start decomposing the organic food. They need at least 1 year to establish. They thrive in cool, moist environments and require a cold snap (a period of cool weather) to initiate fruiting. Without a cold snap, pins (baby mushroom) do not get triggered. The optimal fruiting temperature is between 7-21°C. You would normally see them fruiting in winter or just after winter.
Cultivation
Wood blewit mushrooms are saprobic organisms that grow on decomposing organic matter. They are best cultivated outdoors in beds or on the ground using a mix of organic materials.
Ideal Locations
- Shaded Areas: Optimal for moisture retention, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Under Trees: Provides shade and benefits from natural leaf litter.
- Compost Heaps: Utilize decomposing organic matter for growth.
Indoor cultivation is possible. Will Browiski from forest fungi in Tasmania has reported indoor cultivation on sterile sawdust.
Suitable Substrates
Wood blewits can grow on various substrates, including:
- Hardwood Chips: Ideal for sustained energy release.
- Straw: Provides quick energy but requires frequent replenishment.
- Compost: Rich in nutrients and supports mycelium growth.
- Leaf litter and Organic Yard Waste, twigs, grass clipping, bark: Enhances substrate complexity.
Preparing the Substrate
- Gather Materials: Collect semi-composted yard waste, twigs, leaves, grass clippings, bark, hay, pine needles, and finished compost throughout the season.
- Layering: Use a combination of these materials to build a complex substrate.
Cultivation Methods
- On ground under a tree: Prepare the area with layers of substrate and spawn. As you lay down the layers of organic material, add egg-sized chunks of blewit spawn to the bed. Make sure not to break up the spawn too much, as it regrows faster when left more intact. Every third layer, add a thin layer of finished compost. Continue layering until the bed is about 4-8 inches deep. Mulch over the top with straw, wood chips, bark, or other materials to maintain moisture.
- Raised beds:You can also prepare a raised bed, but they are ideally grown on the ground as this way they can spread extensively and consume a variety of complex food and organic matter from the soil and fruit prolifically. A raised bed is not a bad option either but less effective.
Maintaining and Monitoring
- Moisture Levels: Ensure the bed remains damp but not overly wet. Regularly check and water as needed. A well-made bed in an ideal location may need little to no maintenance.
- Rejuvenation: Add new substrate(organic waste) and spawn periodically to encourage continued growth. Mycelium, when they turn old, stops producing much fruit, and your patch will slowly die. It’s best to keep adding fresh spawn for prolific and vigorous growth every growing season (spring or Autumn). Please note when field blewits grow and you see some damaged and mushroom eaten by wildlife, leave them as is, as they will spore and spread the spore around to introduce fresh mycelium for continued fruiting. It is never advisable to harvest all mushrooms you see. 75% from the patch at a time, and when harvesting from wild, just use about 25% from one patch and leave the rest.
Harvesting
Wood blewits typically fruit in the early autumn, about a year after planting. Keep an eye on your bed, especially after rainfall when temperatures dip in the autumn. Harvest by gently twisting the mushrooms from the substrate. Store them in the refrigerator in a paper bag and always cook before consuming to enhance flavor and digestibility.
Wood blewits (Clitocybe nuda) are edible mushrooms that can be easily confused with several look-alikes. Here are some common look-alikes and tips for distinguishing them:
1. Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)
- Edibility: Edible
- Identification: This mushroom shares a purple color with wood blewits but has thick, well-spaced gills and a fibrous stipe. The gills remain purplish throughout its development. It is not commonly found in Australia and is edible, so it is not a major concern.
2. Sordid Blewit (Lepista sordida)
- Edibility: Edible
- Identification: Nearly identical to wood blewits but generally smaller and thinner-fleshed. Both mushrooms have a similar taste.
3. Cortinarius Species (e.g., C. violaceus, C. purpurascens)
- Edibility: Some species are toxic
- Identification: Characterized by a rusty brown spore print and a cortina (a web-like veil covering the gills when young). The cap may be slimy, and the stem can have rusty spores sticking to it. These species are native to Australia and can be toxic, so great care is needed.
Key Differences Between Wood Blewits and Cortinarius Species:
- Spore Print: Wood blewits have a pinkish-white spore print, while Cortinarius species have a rusty brown spore print.
- Gills and Veil: Cortinarius species often have a cortina covering the gills when young, which is absent in blewits. This is a key feature to distinguish them from Clitocybe nuda.
cortina refers to a specific type of veil found in certain fungi, particularly those belonging to the genus Cortinarius. The cortina is a cobweb-like, often fragile veil that covers the gills of young mushrooms, extending from the edge of the cap to the stem. As the mushroom matures, the cortina typically breaks apart and may leave remnants on the stem or cap edge
- Color and Texture: Blewits may lose their purple color as they age and have a smooth cap texture, unlike the bright purple and sometimes slimy cap of Cortinarius species.
Tips for Differentiating Wood Blewits
- Color Variability: Blewits can change from lilac and purple to cream or nearly brown with age.
- Gills: Blewits have tightly spaced gills with a notch before they touch the stem, differing from the more spaced gills of Laccaria species.
- Smell: Blewits typically have a delicate fruity smell.
- Cap Texture: The cap of blewits is smooth and can feel slightly tacky when wet, unlike the slimy caps of some Cortinarius species.
Foragers, especially in Australia, should be cautious of Cortinarius species due to their potential toxicity. Accurate identification of mushrooms is crucial, and using spore print tests along with expert consultation is recommended when in doubt.
FAQs
What is the difference between Clitocybe nuda and Clitocybe saeva?
- Habitat and Ecology:
- Clitocybe nuda is typically found in woodlands and areas with organic debris, while Clitocybe saeva is more commonly found in grasslands, especially on calcareous soils.
- Both species are saprobic, meaning they decompose organic matter, but they prefer different environments:C. nuda in wooded areas and C. saeva in open fields.
- Physical Characteristics:
- Clitocybe nuda has a purplish hue when young, which fades with age, whereas Clitocybe saeva has a cap that is greyish-brown to beige.
- The gills of C. nuda are pale lavender to lilac, fading to buff or pinkish-buff, while the gills of C. saeva are initially almost white, turning pinkish buff as they mature.
Can Wood blewit mushrooms be grown indoors?
While it is possible to grow Wood blewits mushrooms indoors, they are best suited for outdoor cultivation where they can get access to diverse organic matter to break down and consume. Wood blewits can be grown indoors on Sterile sawdust and bran substrate.
What are the benefits of using wood chips over straw?
Wood chips provide sustained nutrition and energy, allowing for more extended fruiting periods. In contrast, straw may lead to quicker fruiting but requires frequent replenishment.
What do Wood blewit mushrooms taste like?
Wood blewits offer a robust, earthy flavor with a subtle sweetness, making them a flavorful addition to various dishes. They pair exceptionally well with ingredients like garlic, leeks, or onions.Unlike many mushrooms that are primarily known for their umami, or savory taste, wood blewits possess a distinct taste often described as slightly perfumed or floral. This sets them apart from more commonly consumed mushrooms, like button mushrooms, which have a milder flavor.
Are Wood blewit mushrooms psychedelic?
No, Wood blewit mushrooms are not psychedelic and are safe for culinary use.
Where do Wood blewit mushrooms grow?
Wood blewit mushrooms typically grow in garden beds, shaded areas, and locations with ample organic matter, such as under trees or in mulched areas with access to bark, twigs, leaf litter, compost, glass clipping.
How can I buy Wood blewit mushroom spawn?
You can make your spawn using a liquid culture or buy the sawdust spawn directly from our Spawn listing.
Why is Woood blewit mushroom mycelium important for mushroom growth?
Mycelium is crucial as it spreads through the substrate to produce mushrooms. Mycelium works better than Liquid culture and you can buy mycelium in form of Sawdust spawn or Grain spawn.
Where can I find Wood blewits mushroom spores for sale?
Wood Blewits spores can be bought from our Liquid culture listing.
Where can I buy Wood blewits mushrooms for sale?
Wood blewits mushrooms are available for sale in dried form online, its extremely difficult to find them fresh for sale, unless you know someone growing it. That is why you should grow these mushrooms yourself if you have a outdoor spot.
How much wood blewits can I harvest?
Harvesting typically occurs after winter. Wood blewits grown in the ground generally produce more than those in raised beds. The amount of mushroom you can harvest typically depends on the quality of organic material and the time the mycelium has had to establish itself on the ground.
Can I continue growing Wood blewit mushrooms forever without buying more spawn?
Yes, by creating cardboard spawn. Place harvested stem butts from your Wood blewits mushroom in damp cardboard and wait for colonization, which takes about 2 weeks. Use this cardboard spawn in raised beds, layering it between the substrate to propagate more mushrooms.
what is a Feild Blewit?
A field blewit mushroom is another common name for Clitocybe nuda, a mushroom known for its distinctive lilac to purple cap and gills.
How do you cultivate field blewit liquid culture?
Field blewit liquid culture is used to inoculate grain spawn which is then transferred to substrate such as hardwood chips and straw. This method promotes faster colonization and growth of the mushrooms. It is recommended to transfer grain spawn to some sterile sawdust and then spread outdoors though as grains can easily be eaten by birds before they have time to establish themselves and sawdust does not get eaten by pests or insects. We recommend buying sawdust spawn and using that in your garden. Do not break the sawdust spawn too much and keep them in clumps as they remain more vigorous like that.
What are some field blewit mushroom recipes?
Field blewits can be incorporated into various recipes. They are particularly popular in dishes like mushroom stroganoff and can be sautéed with herbs such as sage and tarragon for added flavor.
How do you collect field blewit spores?
To collect spores from a field blewit, place a mature cap gill-side down on a piece of foil and cover it with a bowl. After 12-15 hours, the spores will have dropped onto the foil, ready for collection. Watch our video on how to collect spores.
Are Lepista nuda mushrooms edible?
Yes,Lepista nuda mushrooms are edible and appreciated for their unique flavor. However, they must be cooked thoroughly before consumption to ensure safety.
Why was Lepista nuda reclassified as Clitocybe nuda?
The reclassification of Lepista nuda to Clitocybe nuda is due to advancements in molecular research and taxonomic revisions:
- Molecular Research: Recent studies have shown that the genetic makeup ofLepistaspecies aligns more closely with those in the genus *Clitocybe*. This genetic evidence supports their inclusion in the Clitocybe genus.
- Taxonomic Revisions: Taxonomists like Howard E. Bigelow and Alexander H. Smith have reviewed the genus Lepista and proposed its reclassification as a subgenus of *Clitocybe*. Finnish mycologist Harri Harmaja has also supported this integration.
- Systematic Reorganization: There has been a broader reorganization within the order Agaricales, aiming to more accurately reflect evolutionary relationships among fungi based on phylogenetic data.
These changes are part of ongoing efforts to refine fungal taxonomy based on the latest scientific research. Consequently, the mushroom commonly known as the wood blewit is now recognized as Clitocybe nuda.
Are wood blewits also called blue leg mushroom?
Clitocybe nuda is NOT referred to as blue leg, Clitocybe Saeva has tan cap but blue stem and that is why its referred to as blue leg. Pictured below is Lepista saeva.The colour is more of purple than blue.
Disclaimer
Rootlab cannot ensure the safety of consuming mushrooms that may look like Wood blewits or any wild-harvested mushrooms, and we are not liable for any adverse effects. It is crucial not to eat mushrooms raw or give them to pets. If you experience any symptoms of discomfort, seek immediate advice from a poison control center, veterinarian, or medical professional. Before consuming any mushrooms, be meticulous: take detailed photos of the stem, stem base, gills, cap, surrounding environment, and record the time and location of fruiting. If needed, bring the actual mushroom to a healthcare provider for proper identification. Online communities, like specific Facebook groups, can help with mushroom identification. Please be aware that Rootlab does not offer identification services due to insurance constraints. We strongly recommend joining the “Poison Help: Emergency Identification of Mushrooms and Plants“ Facebook group now, familiarize yourself with its rules, and follow the steps of taking and sharing the necessary photos and information. In case of an emergency, go to the hospital or vet immediately and do not wait for a response from the group. If the hospital contacts poison control, providing the name or species identified by the Facebook group can expedite the diagnosis and treatment.
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