Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis Mueller
Mycotaxon 20: 101. 1984.

Common Name: none

Misapplied name: Laccaria amethystina

• Pileus

  Cap 1-6.5 cm broad, convex to plane, typically depressed with age. Surface fibrillose to scaly. Cap hygrophanous, dark purple, purple, to brownish purple; fading to grayish or buff. Flesh thin, odor mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills sub-distant to distant, adnate to sub-decurrent, bright purple, fading to dull or grayish purple.Stipe 2-12 cm long, 0.3-1.2 cm thick, equal to sub-clavate, dry, striate, and often scaly, more or less concolorous with cap.

• Stipe

  Stipe 2-12 cm long, 0.3-1.2 cm thick, equal to sub-clavate, dry, striate, and often scaly, more or less concolorous with cap.

• Spores

  Spores 7.5-10.5 x 7-16 µm, echinulate, sub-globose to broadly elliptical. Spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious on ground in forests, mostly pine.

• Edibility

  Edible, with good texture, but not much flavor.

• Comments

  Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis previously was known in California as Laccaria amethystina, an Eastern North American species. Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis differs from Laccaria amethystina by its larger size, deeper purple color, sub-globose instead of globose spores, and shorter spines on the spores. The color of this mushroom, except the gills, fades fast as it loses moisture. In fact unless you find this fungus when very fresh, often the only purple you see is in the gills.

• References

  Mueller, G.M. (1984). New North American Species of Laccaria (Agaricales). Mycotaxon 20(1): 101-116. (Protologue)
  Mueller, G.M. (1992). Systematics of Laccaria (Agaricales) in the Continental United States and Canada, with Discussions on Extralimital Taxa and Descriptions of Extant Taxa. Field Museum of Natural History: Chicago, IL. 192 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • The Mushroom Genus Laccaria in North America: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (D, I, & CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 172 (D), plate 30 (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 57 (D & CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 68 (D), p. 69 (CP)
  • Phillips: p. 58 (CP), p. 59 (D)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)