Flowery Blewit

(Lepista irina)

Conservation Status
Flowery Blewit
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Flowery Blewit is a common and widespread, medium-to large-sized, gilled mushroom. It is found in late summer and fall woodlands in groups or clusters. It grows on the ground in soil or on woody debris. It often grows in large rings. It obtains its nutrients from decaying organic matter (saprobic). It has a “flowery” odor that is sometimes faint, sometimes strong and sharp.

The cap is white, hemispherical, and slightly sticky when it first appears. It soon becomes convex, smooth, and dry, with cottony margins that are rolled under. As it matures, the cap flattens out and may retain a bump or be depressed in the center. When mature, it is white to pinkish-tan and sometimes has a lobed or wavy margin. It is usually 1¼ to 5 in diameter, but large specimens up to 9 in diameter have been collected. Older specimens are pinkish-tan or tan. It is not easily separated from the stalk.

The gills are crowded and are broadly attached to the stalk, sometimes slightly running down the stalk. They are white at first but fade to yellowish-pink as they age.

The stalk is solid, stout, 1½ to 3 long, to 1 thick, and sometimes swollen at the base. It is white and dry at first. As it matures it develops tan, fibrous, vertical streaks. Older stalks are pale pinkish-brown. The base is usually covered with white, thread-like fibers (mycelium). There is no ring of tissue on the stalk representing remnants of the veil.

The flesh is thick, white to pinkish, and soft. It is edible when cooked, according to some sources. However, it contains gastrointestinal irritants, and should be considered poisonous to some people.

There are two varieties of Lepista irina. L. i. var. irina has a pale pinkish buff spore print. L. i. var. luteospora has a yellowish spore print.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat and Hosts
 
 

Woodlands

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Season

 
 

Late summer and fall

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 26, 29, 30, 77.

 
  11/20/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common and widespread

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Fungi (fungi)  
  Subkingdom Dikarya  
  Division Basidiomycota (club fungi)  
  Subdivision Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)  
  Class Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)  
  Subclass Agaricomycetidae  
  Order Agaricales (common gilled mushrooms and allies)  
  Suborder Tricholomatineae  
  Family Tricholomataceae  
  Genus Lepista (blewits)  
       
 

Genus
Mushrooms in the three genera Collybia, Clitocybe, and Lepista are closely related. Some members in one genus are more closely related to a mushroom in another genus than to members of their own genus. Adding to the confusion, all three genera are polyphyletic, meaning that they appear similar but do not have a common ancestor. The three genera are in need of revision.

Family
A recent molecular genetic study (P. Alvarado et al., 2015) propossed four options for reclassifying the genera Clitocybe and Lepista. One of the preferred options places Lepista in the tribe Clitocybeae in the family Clitocybaceae. iNaturalist has adopted this recommendation but few other sources have. MycoBank continues to place Lepista in the family Tricholomataceae. Index Fungorum has Incertae sedis as the family. Incertae sedis is latin for “uncertain placement”.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Flowery Blewit (Lepista irina irina)

Flowery Blewit (Lepista irina luteospora)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Agaricus irinus

Clitocybe irina

Gyrophila irina

Rhodopaxillus irinus

Tricholoma irinum

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Blushing Bowlcap

Flowery Blewit

Woolly Lepista

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Mycelium

The vegetative part of a fungus; consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae, through which a fungus absorbs nutrients from its environment; and excluding the fruiting, reproductive structure.

 

Partial veil

A protective covering over the gills or pores of a developing mushroom. At maturity it disappears, collapses into a ring around the stalk, or wears away into a cobwebby covering and ring zone.

 

Saprobic

A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.

 
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Fairy Ring

 
    Flowery Blewit      
           
 

Mushroom

 
    Flowery Blewit      
           
 

Cap

 
    Flowery Blewit      
           
 

Stalk

 
    Flowery Blewit      
           
 

Gills

 
    Flowery Blewit      

 

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slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Illatos pereszke - Lepista irina - Veilchen-Rötelritterling
Csanád Csebecse
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 30, 2015

video made in october 2015 in central hungary

   

 

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