- Blusher
Taxobox
name = Blusher
status = Very common / safe
image_width = 200px
regnum = Fungi
divisio =Basidiomycota
classis =Homobasidiomycetae
subclassis =Hymenomycete s
ordo =Agaricales
familia =Amanitaceae
genus = "Amanita "
species = "A. rubescens"
"A. novinupta
binomial = "Amanita rubescens"
binomial_authority = (Pers. ex Fr.) GrayThe Blusher is the common name for several closely related species of the genus "
Amanita ". "A. rubescens", found in Europe and eastern North America, and "A. novinupta" in western North America. Both their scientific and common names are derived from the propensity of their flesh to turn pink on bruising, or cutting. Although edible, it can be confused with poisonous species, and should probably be avoided by novice mushroomers."Amanita rubescens"
Description
The European blusher has a reddish-brown convex pileus (cap), that is up to 15 cm across, and strewn with small cream-coloured warts. It is sometimes covered with an 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. This is a key feature in differentiating it from the poisonous False Blusher or Panther cap "(
Amanita pantherina )", whose flesh does not.The stipe (stem) is white with flushes of the cap colour, and grows to a height of up to 15 cm. The gills are white and free of the stem, and display red spots when damaged.
The
spore s are white, ovate,amyloid , and approximately 8 by 5 µm in size.The
flavour of the uncooked flesh is mild, but has a faint acridaftertaste . The smell is not strong.The mushroom is often attacked by insects.
Distribution and habitat
It is common throughout much of
Europe and easternNorth America , growing on poor soils as well as indeciduous orconiferous woodlands. It has also been recorded from South Africa, where it is thought to have been accidentally introduced with trees imported from Europe. [cite journal|author=Reid DA, Eicker A|year=1991|title=South African fungi: the genus "Amanita"|journal=Mycological Research|volume=95|pages=80–95|format=PDF|url=http://www.msu.edu/user/hallenhe/SAJB%20amatoxin.pdf|accessdate=2007-11-13]"Amanita novinupta"
Other species
Closely related species include "Amanita brunneolocularis", "A. orsonii", "A. rubescens" var. "alba", and "A. rubescens" var. "congolensis". [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/brunlocu.html]
mycomorphbox
name = Amanita rubescens "and allies'
whichGills = free
capShape = flat
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter=ring
ecologicalType=mycorrhizal
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=choice
howEdible2=cautionUses
Both of these species are edible when cooked. European "Amanita rubescens" is known to contain a
hemolytic poison in its raw state; it is unknown whether North American "A. rubescens" and "A. novinupta" are similarly toxic in its raw state. This toxin is destroyed by cooking."Amanita novinupta" is highly regarded as a choice edible in the region in which it is found. However, the edibility of blusher species other than "A. rubescens" and "A. novinupta" has not been established and experimentation is not advised.
Some experts recommend avoiding the consumption of any species of "Amanita". [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita.html#bravado]
References
External links
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/key.dir/valirube.pdf "Tabular and Nontabular Keys to the Rubescent Species of "Amanita" section "Validae"] by Rodham E. Tulloss, March 10, 2003.
"Amanita rubescens"
* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_rubescens.html "Amanita rubescens"] by Michael Kuo, "MushroomExpert.Com", March 2003.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/ruberube.html "Amanita rubescens Pers.:Fr."] by Rodham E. Tulloss, June 25, 2006."Amanita novinupta"
* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_novinupta.html "Amanita novinupta"] by Michael Kuo, "MushroomExpert.Com", March 2003.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/novinupt.html "Amanita novinupta Tulloss & J. Lindgr."] by Rodham E. Tulloss, July 25, 2006.
* [http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Amanita_novinupta.html "Amanita novinupta"] by Michael Wood & Fred Stevens, "MykoWeb", 2004.Other species
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/brunlocu.html "Amanita brunneolocularis Tulloss, Ovrebo & Halling"] by Rodham E. Tulloss, October 6, 2006.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/flavorub.html "Amanita flavorubens (Berk. & Mont.) Sacc."] by Rodham E. Tulloss, July 25, 2006.
* [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/amanita_flavorubescens.html "Amanita flavorubescens"] by Michael Kuo, "MushroomExpert.Com", September 2002.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/orsoniis.html "Amanita orsonii A. Kumar & T. N. Lakh."] by Rodham E. Tulloss, July 25, 2006.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/rubealba.html "Amanita rubescens var. alba Coker"] by Rodham E. Tulloss, July 25, 2006.
* [http://pluto.njcc.com/~ret/amanita/species/congolen.html "Amanita rubescens var. congolensis Beeli"] by Rodham E. Tulloss, July 25, 2006.
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