There are many winter solstice traditions that exist for cultures around the world. But one in particular involves a little red mushroom that’s common in Colorado and many other parts of the ...

Wine cap Stropharia, or wine cap mushrooms, are a red-brown edible fungus with a white stem. They grow most often in the northeast U.S. and can be found in forested areas, garden beds, and many lawns.

They start out short, white and shaggy with white gills, and grow into tall, thin mushrooms with the gills turning black. At maturity, the mushrooms quickly and dramatically break down into black goo.