Stropharia caerulea

Foto © Giancarlo Partacini - Levico (TN), X.2003

Stropharia caerulea

Kreisel

This captivating species, with azure-green colours reminding those of the green lizard (Lacerta viridis), is morphologically very similar to Stropharia aeruginosa, from which it may be separated by some macroscopic characters, i.e. the absence of a ring, the gill edge concolourous to the faces, the less evident veil remnants on the cap and the quicker discolouration to yellow tinges. Microscopically the absence of cheilocystidia is sufficient to distinguish S. caerulea from S. aeruginosa. (g.p.)