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Amethyst Deceiver

Laccaria amethystina

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41.5514, -8.42305

Field Notes

Description:

The cap is 1–6 cm in diameter, and is initially convex, later flattening, and often with a central depression (navel). When moist it is a deep purplish lilac, which fades upon drying out. It is sometimes slightly scurfy at the center, and has pale striations at the margin.Electronmicroscopic image of spores of Laccaria amethystina The stem is the same colour as the cap, and has whitish fibrils at the base, which become mealy at the top.It is fibrous, hollow, fairly tough when rolled in the fingers, with dimensions of 0.6 to 7 centimetres (0.24 to 2.8 in) long by 0.1 to 0.7 centimetres (0.039 to 0.28 in) thick. The flesh is without a distinctive taste or smell, and is thin, with pale lilac coloration.The gills are colored as the cap, often quite distantly spaced, and are dusted by the white spores; their attachment to the stem is sinuate—having a concave indentation before attaching to the stem.[edit]Microscopic characteristics The spores are spherical, hyaline, and bear pointed spines (echinulate) that are long relative to the size of the spore; they typically have dimensions of 7–10 by 7–10 µm. The basidia, the spore-bearing cells, are club-shaped and hyaline, and are 30–64.5 by 8.5–14 µm

Habitat:

Laccaria amethystina, commonly known as the Amethyst Deceiver is a small brightly colored, edible mushroom, that grows in deciduous as well as coniferous forests. Because its bright amethyst coloration fades with age and weathering, it becomes difficult to identify, hence the common name ‘Deceiver’. This common name is shared with its close relation Laccaria laccata that also fades and weathers. It is found mainly in Northern temperate zones, though it is reported to occur in tropical Central and South America as well. Recently, some of the other species in the genus have been given the common name of "deceiver

Notes:

As with other members of the genus Laccaria, this species is edible, though generally not considered a choice edible. While not inherently toxic, in soils that are polluted with arsenic, it can bioaccumulate a high concentration of that compound.
This one is in decay phase.
Spotted in a mix forest of oaks,eucalypthus and pine trees,near my house

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

I have seen this laccarias before. The gills are very thick...

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