While we usually think of Wine Cap Stropharia as one of the easiest mushrooms to identify, grown under certain conditions, Wine Cap can look far flung from the deep red, robust caps you usually see. If grown in the sun, the caps will bleach and become a tan, or even white, color. If grown in a windy location, wine cap mushrooms can crack and become almost unrecognizable. Here are 3 things to look for to positively ID your Wine Cap Stropharia.
3 Tips for Identifying Wine Cap Stropharia
1. The Annulus
Wine Cap mushrooms have a robust annulus. An annulus is the remnant of the mushroom veil that stays attached to the stipe (aka stem) as the mushroom cap expands. This can appear as a "ring" or a "skirt" depending on the mushroom species. In the case of Wine Cap, the annulus is a robust ring around the stem. Sometimes this ring is even "crown-like" giving Wine Cap the alternative name of "King Stropharia".
2. Wine Cap Spore Color
Wine Cap mushrooms create charcoal-colored spores. This leads to gill color ranging from lavender in younger specimens to deep gray in more mature specimens. When Wine Caps drop their spores, you can usually see the dusting of charcoal-colored spores on the stem or the ground. However, if you're looking for a more positive ID, you can also make a spore print and deduce the spore color that way.
3. Rhizomorphs
These root-like structures are easily visible when you pull a wine cap out of the ground for harvest. Look for thick, white strands at the base of the stem (stipe) when you're harvesting your wine cap mushrooms!
