Cap
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2 to 7 cm in diameter, the caps are initially convex and become almost
flat-topped at maturity.
During wet weather young caps of Laccaria
amethystea are deep purple (as is the specimen seen here alongside the
tan coloured common Deceiver, Laccaria laccata). |
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During dry spells the caps and stems become much
paler and eventually almost white. The specimen seen here is not yet
completely dry; its cap is becoming paler from the centre.
Eventually, Amethyst Deceivers become pale buff, as do the common
Deceivers. This makes identification of old specimens even more difficult.
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Gills
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The broad, deep gills are widely spaced and
interspersed with shorter gills. Long before the cap fades to buff, the
gills begin losing their colour. This is because, perhaps surprisingly
when you see how vivid the young gills are, the spores of this mushroom
are white.
If ever there is just one good example of why we should not take gill
colour as a guide to spore colour, this surely is it! |
Stipe
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5 to 10 mm in diameter and 5 to 10 cm tall,
the tough, fibrous stems are increasingly more 'hairy' towards the base.
Deep purple at first, but becoming paler as the caps fade, the stems of
this woodland species are usually bent and often radially twisted. They
are very tough and fibrous. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Not distinctive. |
Habitat |
Among leaf litter in all kinds of woodland but
particularly plentiful under beech trees. |
Season |
June to November. |
Occurrence |
Very common. |
Similar species |
- Mycena pura is a violet coloured bell cap, but it has pale
gills and the stem is not fibrous.
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