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The Witch's Hat
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1206 W: 2 N: 4555]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (13780) |
| Genre: Fungi |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-10-11 |
| Categories: Fungi |
| Exposure: f/10.0, 1/250 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-10-16 23:14 |
| Viewed: 1599 |
| Points: 22 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch] |
Today my last black fungi.
This specie I have been posted a few wees earlier but this are the last fase.
I have this week found many differnt fungis but I am also sad because the 2 species with earthstar, I posted earlier are disapeard. (Red list)
Tomorrow I started with colourfull little fungi's.
Latin name - Hygrocybe conica
Unlike most of the red to orange waxy caps in North America, the witch's hat is relatively easy to identify: virtually all parts of the mushroom bruise and discolor strongly black. In fact, one sometimes finds older specimens that have discolored so much that they appear almost completely black.
Hygrocybe conica is the most common and widely distributed species in the cluster of species that forms the witch's hat complex. Hygrocybe singeri is similar, but has a slimy stem. Other members of the cluster include Hygrocybe nigrescens, which is inconsistently described but may differ in minor morphological features. Hygrocybe cuspidata blackens only at the stem base, if at all.
The witch's cap, and the question of its edibility, have been at the center of considerable modern legend and confusion. A quick trip through the major field guides currently in print will reveal that some authors claim it is edible, while others give it a "not recommended" label, or simply call it "poisonous." The source of the confusion appears to be a report that four people in China died from eating the mushroom. The witch's cap "was once considered poisonous, perhaps due to its blackening qualities, but also because four deaths in China were (mistakenly?) attributed to it. Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats, was already noting the edible-poisonous discrepancy in 1949:
Four deaths in China however, were attributed to poisoning from it. I have not tried it. More than likely several strains of the species exist, and though some are edible some may not be. It should be regarded as dangerous.
This places the report of four Chinese fatalities prior to 1949.
So we are left with a suspicion that appears to be based on a report from China in the first decades of the last century. What I find amazing is the long life of the legend; many current mushroom authors, apparently thinking of the Chinese report, are still suspicious of the witch's hat.
In what is probably the most popular field guide on the market, this species is reported to have caused 4 deaths in China; some believe it is also hallucinogenic".
The belief is strong enough that some of the various Web sites that sell spores and spawn kits for hallucinogenic mushrooms like Psilocybe cubensis (possessing only the spores or spawn is legal in most states) make mention of the witch's hat. Then again, many people in the crowd that pursues hallucinogenic mushrooms are, um, not very reliable for scientific information; some are not at all interested in learning anything about mushrooms, cruising through Web sites like this one or flipping hastily through field guides, then going out to pick little, nondescript mushrooms and eat them. People like this might be the source of the reports of hallucinogenic properties. First, because of some association with the common name "witch's cap" ("Hey, m-a-a-a-n, it's magical!"), and second, because some of the psilocybin mushrooms bruise and stain strongly dark blue (not black; blue)--a fact that could have been misread and mis-applied by some stoner who ate so many mushrooms that he had no idea which one it actually was that made the walls bleed.
The witch's cap, however, does not appear on J. W. Allen's 2000 list of the 186 known psychoactive mushrooms ("A Worldwide Geographical Distribution of the Neurotropic Fungi") nor do any mushrooms closely related to it. As for Larry Stickney, the San Francisco chef who became lightheaded and numb eating the witch's cap, take a look at this photo of him worshiping a mushroom, posted at the Mycological Society of San Francisco's Web site. I'm only kidding, of course, and I have no reason to doubt his report. However,
So, make your own decision on whether you want to eat Hygrocybe conica. I'm not going to try it. What if I'm wrong?
Description:
Ecology: Saprobic under hardwoods or conifers; growing alone or gregariously; spring through fall, winter in warmer climates; widely distributed in North America.
Cap: 2-7 cm; sharply to broadly conic, sometimes convex with a conic point; slimy when fresh, but soon dry or tacky; smooth or finely hairy in age; reddish to scarlet orange, often with olive to greenish tints; bruising and discoloring black.
Gills: Nearly free from the stem; close; whitish, becoming yellowish orange or olive yellow; bruising black.
Stem: 6-11 cm long; 5-10 mm thick; colored like the cap, white at the base; equal; moist but not slimy; fragile; splitting; often grooved lengthwise or twisted; hollow; bruising black.
Flesh: Colored like the cap; thin; blackening on exposure.
Odor and Taste: Not distinctive.
Spore Print: White.
Microscopic Features: Spores 9-12 x 5.5-6.5 µ; smooth; elliptical to irregular. Gill tissue parallel.
Hygrophorus conicus is a synonym. |
iris, clnaef, boreocypriensis, jconceicao, jaycee, nglen, bahadir, xTauruSx, cicindela has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- mariki
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1060 W: 61 N: 2306]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(9467) - [2008-10-16 23:21]
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Hello Gert,
Very nice presentation of this fungus. Excellent reproduction of the texture of the cap. Very good contrast against the background. Beautiful warm colours.
Cheers,
Mariki
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- clnaef
(6814)
- [2008-10-16 23:27]
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Bonjour,
Un joli modèle bien documenté.
Bonne journée.
clnaef
Hi Big Bro,
Excellet close-up shot of this lovely shaped mushroom in a fine composition with great sharpness, details, nice POV/DOF and framing.
Have a wonderful weekend!
TFS and cheers,
Bayram
Hello Gert,
You have a big collection of mushrooms photos.
Excellent capture with good focus.
Colours and detail are fantastic.
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- foozi
(9077)
- [2008-10-17 6:44]
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Hello Gert,
exciting andunique shot of this
extraordinary fungus.
New to me and the name too is very special.
Clear and sharp and very interesting and useful note.
Regards,
Foozi
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- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(21912) - [2008-10-17 11:22]
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Hi Gert,
This is so different from your last Witches Hat! It's easy to see how it got its name. The colors and lightings are wonderful. Razor sharp details showing the contours and textures. Looks wonderful in the natural setting.
Jane
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- lousat
(19673)
- [2008-10-17 11:49]
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Hi Gert,i like a lot this pic,the choice of point of view is very very great,and the light too.Perfect details of this black fungi in a colorfully background,my best compliments,have a nice weekend,Luciano
Hello Gert
a beautiful image of this mushroom like an umbrella:). TFS.
Regards,
Bahadır
Hello Gert, a superb macro shot of this mushroom. Composition is very nice. TFS and regards,
Deniz
Hi Gert!
Clear and sharp picture with wonderful, warm colours! I like low POV and reflections on the mushroom :)
TFS and all the best!
Radomir
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- nglen
(32138)
- [2008-10-18 9:53]
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Hi Gert. You can see how this one got its name. Once again a first class close up of this Fungi. You take them so well. With fine detail and rich colours. I like the low POV. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good weekend.
