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Amethyst Deceiver

Edible Edible
Autumn Autumn
Summer Summer

Very common and beautifully coloured, although the colour can be deceptive in photographs.

Mushroom Type
Common Names Amethyst Deceiver (EN), Twyllwr Piws (CY), Lakówka Ametystowa (PL), Lila Pénzecskegomba (HU)
Scientific Name Laccaria amethystina
Season Start Jun
Season End Nov
Average Mushroom height (CM) 12
Average Cap width (CM) 6
Please note that each and every mushroom you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.

Cap

Convex to flattened with depressed centre and even upturned edges, often becoming deformed with age. Deep purple/lilac when young fading to pale brown/tan.

Gills

Gills deep purple/lilac when young fading to pale brown/tan. Widely spaced, broad and irregular with shorter gills in-between.

Stem

Deep purple/lilac when young fading to pale brown/tan. Fibrous, usually twisted and sometimes hollow.

Flesh

Purple can be white with a purple flush.

Habitat

Mixed woodland, particularly with oak and beech.

Possible Confusion

When young the deep purple of the Amethyst Deceiver is quite distinctive. Caution should be taken with older specimens however as the whole mushroom can fade and look more tinged then purple. The fading can make identification less sure as there could easily be a confusion with the potentially deadly Lilac Fibrecap (Inocybe lilacina), pictured, but this mushroom has off white or grey gills whereas the Amethyst Deceiver has the same colour in the cap, gills and stem.

Spore Print

White. Globose with spines.

Taste / Smell

Mildly nutty/mushroomy and keeps its colour when cooked so a bright addition to any meal.

Frequency

Common.

COMMENTS

7 comments for Amethyst Deceiver

  1. Ed says:

    Do you know if these keep well if you dehydrate them?

    1. Eric Biggane says:

      The keep very well once dried but never re-hydrate to a beautiful purple again.

  2. Denzil Shohaughn says:

    Thanks for the info. Tried these for the first time today and they’re pretty good eating!

  3. The Geese says:

    Found only a few of these in our local woodland and always wanted to find more; they’re delicious. Just visited a national trust woodland today and they were out in their hundreds! Mushroom stroganoff for dinner I think!

  4. Julie Houghton says:

    Today, very surprised to find such a bounty of them. Found my two biggest ever: cap of 10cm and another of 7cm. I’m going to take a crazy punt and see if I can’t make a mushroom bacon chowder with them.

  5. Mat says:

    Do you know if you can eat them raw?

    1. Eric Biggane says:

      We recommend cooking all wild mushrooms as they have not been grown in sterile conditions, also, many edible mushrooms need to be cooked before consumption as this destroys any harmful toxins.

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