Blue Pinkgill

Entoloma hochstetteri

The Blue Pinkgill is a small mushroom with a bright blue to pink color. It’s a treasure for mushroom hunters who explore the woods!

Habitat: Grasslands and meadows

Appearance

The Blue Pinkgill is easily recognized by its vibrant indigo-blue cap, which can fade slightly with age, and its distinctive pink gills. Its slender blue stem, sometimes tinged white, supports the striking cap. This brilliant coloration makes it stand out vividly against the forest floor.

KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderAgaricalesFamilyEntolomataceaeGenusEntoloma

Blue Pinkgill

Interesting facts

Even the tiny spores are pink, which gives its gills their characteristic rosy hue.

It's the national fungus of New Zealand and even appeared on a postage stamp!

Its striking blue color comes from special pigments called azulenes, rare in fungi.

The scientific name honors a German geologist who explored New Zealand.

Special abilities

Blue Pinkgill has unique azulene pigments that give it its vibrant blue hue, making it an eye-catching forest inhabitant.

Blue Pinkgill can release thousands of tiny pink spores from its gills, carried by wind to new locations to grow.

Blue Pinkgill can break down dead leaves and wood, returning vital nutrients to the soil for other plants to use.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-10 cm
Edibility: poisonous
Cap Diameter: 2-8 cm
Growth Substrate: soil
Season: Summer, fall
Spore Color: Pink

Ecological connections

depends on

Black Beech

Nothofagus solandri

Decomposes its fallen leaves and wood for nutrients.

depends on

Tawa

Beilschmiedia tawa

Breaks down leaf litter and woody debris from this tree.

eaten by

New Zealand Leaf-veined slug

Athoracophorus bitentaculatus

Provides a potential food source for native fungivorous slugs.

Traits

Spore Producing

Discover how some plants and fungi create tiny little "seeds" called spores to help them grow new life! These tiny particles drift in the air, spreading new generations far and wide.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.