Cortinarius caperatus
Encyclopedia
Cortinarius caperatus, commonly known as the gypsy mushroom, is a highly esteemed edible mushroom of the genus
Cortinarius
found in northern regions of Europe and North America. It was known as Rozites caperata for many years, before genetic studies revealed it lay within the large genus Cortinarius. The ochre-coloured fruiting bodies appear in autumn in coniferous and beech woods, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn. The gills are free and clay-coloured and the smell and taste mild. Although mild-tasting and highly regarded, the gypsy mushroom is often infested with maggots.
history. It was originally described as Agaricus caperatus by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon
in 1796, before being transferred to the genus Cortinarius by the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
. Later it was transferred to Pholiota
in 1887 by Pier Andrea Saccardo
, and then Rozites (after mycologist Ernst Roze) by Finnish mycologist Petter Adolf Karsten
in 1879, and was known as Rozites caperata (Pers.) P. Karst. for many years before genetic study once more placed it within Cortinarius in 2002. The variant Rozites caperatus was and is also sometimes seen, but this may be a mistake. The specific epithet caperatus is Latin for “wrinkled”.
Common name
s include the gypsy mushroom, and wrinkled rozites. An unusual common name is granny′s nightcap in Finland.
5–10 cm (2–4 in) diameter, which is covered with whitish fibres. The surface has a wrinkled and furrowed texture. It may have a lilac tinge when young. It is convex initially before expanding and flattening with a boss in the centre. The stipe
is 4–7 cm (1.6–2.6 in) high and 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) thick and slightly swollen at the base, and is whitish with a whitish ring, which is initially attached to the cap. The free gills, are clay-coloured; the spores give an ochre-brown spore print
. The warty almond-shaped spores measure 10–13 × 8–9 µm
. The flesh is cream-coloured and the taste mild.
Similar-looking North American species include Agrocybe praecox, which lacks the wrinkled cap, and is found in cultivated areas, and Phaeolepiota aurea, which has powdery-granular surface. In central Europe, old specimens could be mistaken for the highly poisonous Inocybe erubescens in summer, and young mushrooms for the inedible Cortinarius traganus
, although the latter is readily distinguished by its unpleasant odour.
and the New Forest
. It is widely found in northern parts of North America. The Gypsy also grows in temperate Asia, i.e. it can be found on the markets in the Tibetan areas of Yunnan
and Sichuan
and also in Bhutan
. In addition to the Gypsy, in the Tibeto-Himalayan region the Himalayan Gypsy (Cortinarius / Rozites emodenis), a close relative with a purple hue, is also commonly eaten and frequently traded.
Fruiting bodies sprout from August to October in conifer and beech
woods, as well as heather
(often close by sphagnum
) in Scotland. It is mycorrhizal but non-selective in its hosts. It prefers sandy soils and avoids chalky ones, and may be found in the same habitats as Boletus badius
, Paxillus involutus
, and chanterelles
. It is often found near huckleberry
in North America.
, boletes
, brittlegills
or milk-caps
. However, picked mushrooms are often infested with maggots. Mycologist David Arora
recommends discarding the tough stipes. It can be dried for later use readily.
It is sold commercially in Finland.
This mushroom is known to hyperaccumulate heavy metals from its environment. Following the Chernobyl disaster
, resulting in radioactive contamination in countries as distant as Scandinavia, health autorities in these countries caution against overconsumption of C. capertatus.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Cortinarius
Cortinarius
Cortinarius is a genus of mushrooms. It is suspected to be the largest genus of agarics, containing over 2000 different species and found worldwide. A common feature among all species in the genus Cortinarius is that young specimens have a cortina between the cap and the stem, hence the name,...
found in northern regions of Europe and North America. It was known as Rozites caperata for many years, before genetic studies revealed it lay within the large genus Cortinarius. The ochre-coloured fruiting bodies appear in autumn in coniferous and beech woods, as well as heathlands in late summer and autumn. The gills are free and clay-coloured and the smell and taste mild. Although mild-tasting and highly regarded, the gypsy mushroom is often infested with maggots.
Taxonomy
The gypsy mushroom has a checkered taxonomicTaxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
history. It was originally described as Agaricus caperatus by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon
Christian Hendrik Persoon
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.-Early life:...
in 1796, before being transferred to the genus Cortinarius by the Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
. Later it was transferred to Pholiota
Pholiota
Pholiota is a genus of small to fleshy mushrooms in the family Strophariaceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in temperate regions, and contains about 150 species....
in 1887 by Pier Andrea Saccardo
Pier Andrea Saccardo
Pier Andrea Saccardo was an Italian botanist and mycologist.- Life :...
, and then Rozites (after mycologist Ernst Roze) by Finnish mycologist Petter Adolf Karsten
Petter Adolf Karsten
Petter Adolf Karsten was a Finnish mycologist, the foremost expert on the fungi of Finland in his day, and known in consequence as the "father of Finnish mycology"....
in 1879, and was known as Rozites caperata (Pers.) P. Karst. for many years before genetic study once more placed it within Cortinarius in 2002. The variant Rozites caperatus was and is also sometimes seen, but this may be a mistake. The specific epithet caperatus is Latin for “wrinkled”.
Common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
s include the gypsy mushroom, and wrinkled rozites. An unusual common name is granny′s nightcap in Finland.
Description
Cortinarius caperatus has a buff to brownish-ochre capPileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
5–10 cm (2–4 in) diameter, which is covered with whitish fibres. The surface has a wrinkled and furrowed texture. It may have a lilac tinge when young. It is convex initially before expanding and flattening with a boss in the centre. The stipe
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is 4–7 cm (1.6–2.6 in) high and 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) thick and slightly swollen at the base, and is whitish with a whitish ring, which is initially attached to the cap. The free gills, are clay-coloured; the spores give an ochre-brown spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
. The warty almond-shaped spores measure 10–13 × 8–9 µm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
. The flesh is cream-coloured and the taste mild.
Similar-looking North American species include Agrocybe praecox, which lacks the wrinkled cap, and is found in cultivated areas, and Phaeolepiota aurea, which has powdery-granular surface. In central Europe, old specimens could be mistaken for the highly poisonous Inocybe erubescens in summer, and young mushrooms for the inedible Cortinarius traganus
Cortinarius traganus
Cortinarius traganus, also known as the gassy webcap, is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Cortinarius. The mushrooms are characterized by their lilac color, the rusty-brown gills and spores, and rusty-brown flesh in the stem.-Taxonomy:...
, although the latter is readily distinguished by its unpleasant odour.
Distribution and habitat
It is found across northern Europe, mainly in Scandinavia. In the British Isles it is uncommon outside the Scottish HighlandsScottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
and the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
. It is widely found in northern parts of North America. The Gypsy also grows in temperate Asia, i.e. it can be found on the markets in the Tibetan areas of Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
and also in Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. In addition to the Gypsy, in the Tibeto-Himalayan region the Himalayan Gypsy (Cortinarius / Rozites emodenis), a close relative with a purple hue, is also commonly eaten and frequently traded.
Fruiting bodies sprout from August to October in conifer and beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
woods, as well as heather
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
(often close by sphagnum
Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
) in Scotland. It is mycorrhizal but non-selective in its hosts. It prefers sandy soils and avoids chalky ones, and may be found in the same habitats as Boletus badius
Boletus badius
Boletus badius , and commonly known as the Bay Bolete is an edible, pored mushroom from Europe and North America...
, Paxillus involutus
Paxillus involutus
Paxillus involutus, commonly known as the brown roll-rim, common roll-rim, or poison pax, is a basidiomycete fungus widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. It has been unintentionally introduced to Australia, New Zealand, and South America, where it has likely been transported in soil...
, and chanterelles
Cantharellus
Cantharellus is a genus of popular edible mushrooms, commonly known as chanterelles . They are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form symbiotic associations with plants, making them very difficult to cultivate...
. It is often found near huckleberry
Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a common name used in North America for several species of plants in two closely related genera in the family Ericaceae:* Vaccinium* GaylussaciaHuckleberry may also refer to:-Plants:...
in North America.
Edibility
Cortinarius caperatus is a highly regarded edible mushroom with a mild flavour. It is said to mix well with stronger-flavoured fungi such as chanterellesCantharellus
Cantharellus is a genus of popular edible mushrooms, commonly known as chanterelles . They are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form symbiotic associations with plants, making them very difficult to cultivate...
, boletes
Boletus
Boletus is a genus of mushroom, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, essentially containing all fungi with pores...
, brittlegills
Russula
Around 750 worldwide species of mycorrhizal mushrooms compose the genus Russula. They are typically common, fairly large, and brightly colored - making them one of the most recognizable genera among mycologists and mushroom collectors...
or milk-caps
Lactarius
Lactarius is a genus of mushroom-producing fungi. The genus, collectively known commonly as milk-caps, are characterized by the fact that they exude a milky fluid if cut or damaged...
. However, picked mushrooms are often infested with maggots. Mycologist David Arora
David Arora
David Arora is an American mycologist, naturalist, and writer. He is the author of two popular books on mushroom identification, Mushrooms Demystified and All That the Rain Promises and More.......
recommends discarding the tough stipes. It can be dried for later use readily.
It is sold commercially in Finland.
This mushroom is known to hyperaccumulate heavy metals from its environment. Following the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
, resulting in radioactive contamination in countries as distant as Scandinavia, health autorities in these countries caution against overconsumption of C. capertatus.