# Wine-Cap Stropharia (*stropharia rugosoannulata*) The Wine-Cap Stropharia is a colorful mushroom that grows in gardens and forests. Its vibrant cap and unique texture make it a fun discovery for little nature explorers! - **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wine-Cap Stropharia typically grows in gardens, forests, and areas with wood chips or mulch. - **Also known as:** Garden Giant, Huitlacoche, Stropharia, Wine Cap Mushroom ![Wine-Cap Stropharia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2011-05-19_Stropharia_rugosoannulata_Farl._ex_Murrill_183478.jpg&width=800) Photo: This image was created by user Ann B. (Ann F. Berger) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2011-05-19_Stropharia_rugosoannulata_Farl._ex_Murrill_183478.jpg) ## Appearance The Wine-Cap Stropharia has a distinctive wine-red to reddish-brown cap, often fading to tan with age, and a thick, sturdy white stem. It features a prominent, often ridged or star-shaped ring below its gills. This mushroom typically grows in clusters. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Fungi - **Phylum:** Basidiomycota - **Class:** Agaricomycetes - **Order:** Agaricales - **Family:** Strophariaceae - **Genus:** Stropharia ## Interesting facts - The mycelium (underground fungal network) can grow for many yards beneath the surface! - These mushrooms are sometimes called 'Garden Giants' because of their impressive size! - When young, its cap can be a stunning deep purple before it matures to brown. - You can grow these delicious mushrooms right in your garden beds using wood chips! ## Special abilities - **Nutrient Recycler:** Wine-Cap Stropharia can break down wood chips and organic matter, enriching soil for plants. - **Myco-Remediator:** It can help clean up polluted soil by breaking down certain pollutants and heavy metals. - **Nematode Trapper:** Some Wine-Caps can ensnare and 'eat' tiny soil worms (nematodes) for extra nitrogen! - **Colony Creator:** Wine-Cap Stropharia can form vast mycelial networks, connecting and supporting entire mushroom patches. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 6-15 cm - **Edible:** edible - **Size:** 5-30 cm - **Growth Substrate:** wood - **Season:** Summer to Fall - **Spore Color:** Dark purple-brown ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — decomposes fallen oak wood - **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — slugs often munch on mushroom caps - **Eats:** [Quaking Aspen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quaking-aspen) (*Populus tremuloides*) — breaks down dead aspen wood ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before picking mushrooms! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Wine-Cap Stropharia? Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Wine-Cap Stropharia? 6-15 cm ### Is Wine-Cap Stropharia edible? edible ### How big is Wine-Cap Stropharia? 5-30 cm ### Where is Wine-Cap Stropharia usually found? Wine-Cap Stropharia typically grows in gardens, forests, and areas with wood chips or mulch. ### What does Wine-Cap Stropharia grow on? wood ### When is Wine-Cap Stropharia in season? Summer to Fall ### What color are Wine-Cap Stropharia spores? Dark purple-brown ## Where to spot - [ZooAmerica](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zooamerica) — Pennsylvania, US · Zoo - [Andrews Geyser](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/andrews-geyser) — North Carolina, US · Nature Reserve - [Harry S. Truman Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harry-s-truman-historic-district) — Missouri, US · Historic District - [Indian Hill Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/indian-hill-avenue-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [John J. Tyler Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-j-tyler-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Metro South Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metro-south-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Wine-Cap Stropharia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wine-cap-stropharia) ## More Fungi - [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*) --- Source: [Wine-Cap Stropharia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wine-cap-stropharia)