Blusher

Description

The blusher is a large mushroom with a cap up to 15 cm across, in shades from flesh-reddish to brown-reddish, covered with brown-pink patches. The gills are white, turning pinker with age, and the stem has a striate ring and a bulbous, thickened base. Characteristic is the reddening of the flesh when damaged or cut.

It grows from June to November on the ground in broadleaf, coniferous and mixed forests, most often under birches, beeches, pines and oaks. It is very common in Poland.

The blusher is easily confused with the poisonous panther cap and with the grey spotted amanita; some authors advise against collecting it. Do not rely on a single feature — check the reddening of the flesh, the striate ring and the absence of striation on the cap margin. Never eat it raw. If you are not sure, do not pick or eat it.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 5–15 cm; young hemispherical or convex, then flat. Colour flesh-reddish, pale reddish, brown-reddish or light brown with a reddish tint; surface dry, covered with brown-pink, white to mahogany patches of various sizes; sometimes with an ochre-yellow bloom washed off by rain. Margin without distinct striation.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills white when young, later with a pinkish bloom, up to 12 mm wide, crowded; descriptions give different attachment: adnate, decurrent or free. When damaged they turn brown-reddish (with red spots).

Stem

Height up to 15 cm; whitish at first, later brown-reddish, bulbous and thickened at the base, surrounded by remnants of the volva in the form of irregular rings. Ring striate (grooved in the upper part).

Flesh

White, fleshy, brittle; when damaged or exposed to air it changes colour to reddish (pink) — an identification feature. Smell weak or absent; taste of the raw flesh mild, with a slightly acrid aftertaste. Do not taste it raw.

Spore print and spores

Spore print white. Spores smooth, broadly ellipsoid, amyloid; dimensions 8–10 × 6–7 µm (descriptions give different ranges).

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. A mycorrhizal fungus (ectomycorrhiza) with broadleaf and coniferous trees; grows on the ground, among mosses, especially under birches, beeches, pines, oaks; also on poor soils.

Distribution. Northern Hemisphere, widely distributed: North America, Europe, Asia; also recorded in Africa (South Africa — probably introduced). Very common in Poland. It is not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. From June to November.

What can it be confused with?

• Amanita pantherina (panther cap) — Poisonous. Flesh does not redden when damaged; ring not striate; a folded volva at the stem base (no pink tint, cap with a striate margin).
• Amanita excelsa (grey spotted amanita) — Mentioned as a species it is confused with; detailed differences — no data.
• Amanita novinupta (“blushing bride”) — A species of western North America, also reddens; of no significance for Poland.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• The species name and the English name “blusher” come from the pinking of the flesh when damaged.
• It was described in 1797 by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon; it has about 30 scientific synonyms.
• In North America it is often parasitised by Hypomyces hyalinus, which makes identification difficult.
• Its western North American counterpart is Amanita novinupta (“blushing bride”).