Blood-foot mushroom
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Blood-foot mushroom |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
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Mycena haematopus |
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The Blood-Foot Mushroom is a species of fungi known by the scientific name Mycena haematopus. Its common name (Blood-Foot) is derived from the purple-red 'blood' that comes out of its stem when it is cut or crushed.
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Anatomy
The Mycena haematopus is small in size. They haven't been tested for toxins yet, so it is not recommended to eat them. Though, do to their size, they wouldn't add to the table. A good way to tell if you have found a Blood-Foot Mushroom is by their color and bleeding capabilities.[1]When the mushroom's stem is crushed a purple-colored 'blood' will drip out. [2] How old the mushroom is when it is cut varies on how much 'blood' will flow out. The mushrooms can be found in red, pink, brown, grey, even some in beige.[3]
As I said before, the Mycena haematopus is very small. The stem will grow to only about eight cm. the smallest would be four cm., and only being one-two mm. thick and hollow. The stem is usually a smooth red, but sometimes it will have a few pale red hairs. The cap of the mushroom will grow to be only about one - three cm in diameter, it is, of course, in the shape of an oval.[4]
Reproduction
The Mycena haematopus reproduce asexual, by spores. The spores are white in color and are usually between 8-11 x 5-7 µ when placed under a microscope. [5]
Ecology
The Mycena haematopus are found on logs, ones that are usually decaying. Like most other plants, the Mycena haematopus will grow in clusters close together. But every now and then you can find a loner here and there. You can find a lot of the Mycena haematopus in North American mostly in the spring, summer and fall.[6] Although some have been seen growing from mid- to late winter. [7]
The Mycenean
The Mycenean civilization is thought to be named after the mushroom. As the story goes Three and one-half millennia ago Perseus, a Greek hero, accidentally killed Acrisius, his grandfather. Perseus was to succeed to the throne of Argos after Acrisius. Perseus, unknown to him, fulfilled an Oracle’s prophecies made. Perseus felt guilty about the manslaughter of his grandfather, he returned once more to his kingdom and pleaded with Megapenthes, another ruler, to trade kingdoms with him, his Argos for Megapenthes’s Proetus. Once the trade was complete Perseus went to his new kingdom and discovered the Mycenae. A few different stories are thrown around about how the mushroom aided him, but in the end he names his city after the small organism. [8]
Gallery
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References
- Tom Volk's Fungus Tom Volk, 2002.
- Mushroom Expert Michael Kuo, November 2004.
- Roger Mushrooms Rogers Plants Ltd., 2001-2009.
- California Fungi—Mycena haematopus by Michael Wood & Fred Stevens, 1997-2009. Myknoweb
See Also
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