Lepista saeva

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iLepista saeva
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Basidiomycetes Order: Agaricales Family: Tricholomataceae Genus: Lepista Species: L. saeva
Binomial name
Lepista saeva (Fr.) P.D. Orton

The Field blewit (Lepista saeva), previously known as Tricholoma personatum, is a toadstool similar to the wood blewit. It is commonly found growing in open plains.

Like the wood blewit, it must be cooked first before being eaten, otherwise you could get extremely ill. The allergic symptoms differ from person to person. This mushroom is often infested with fly larvaes. So pick young and fresh ones, be sure to cut the cap and stem to make sure it has no insects in it. They don't store very well and should be used after picking.

[edit] Description

The convex cap is light cream-brown with a smooth texture. The ringless stem is thin and has light purple-blue colour, hence an alternative name Blue-Leg.

[edit] Distribution and habitat

It prefers to grow in grasslands and dirt areas across Europe.

[edit] Edibility

Widely consumed and eaten, the Blewit requires cooking before consumption.