This mushroom is well known in the area which it grows due to its bright blue coloration. In fact, it is known as the Werewere-Kokako due to its similarities to the blue coloring of the wattle of the Kokako bird, which is popular in New Zealand. It is also found on the front of New Zealand's 50 dollar note. What else can we learn about this deep blue mushroom?
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Physical Description and Behavior
The most notable aspect of this mushroom is the fact that it is a deep blue. Many other mushrooms in this family are poisonous, but it is not well known as to whether this one in particular is. Also, despite being blue, as many psychedelic mushrooms tend to include, it is not so. In fact, it is unclear what exactly causes the blue coloration. Some ideas are even coming to the surface to use this mushroom as a form of food coloring.
It is 2 inches tall and can be up to 1.5 inches in diameter, meaning that it is not very large as compared to many other mushrooms. Despite its small size, it still has made it into the minds of the people of New Zealand, and can even be found on New Zealand's currency. They seem to be scattered as well, not appearing in clumps like many other varieties of mushrooms do.
More research is being done on this mushroom in order to find out a lot more about it. In the meantime, it is probably not a good idea to taste it.
Habitat and Location
This mushroom is known to grow in woodlands exclusively in the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It seems to be native to this region but has been seen growing in India and even Australia as well. It was probably introduced to India not too long ago.