Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis
Mycotaxon 20: 101. 1984.
Common Name: none
Misapplied name: Laccaria amethystina
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.
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 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 7.5-10.5 x 7-16 µm, echinulate, sub-globose to broadly elliptical. Spore print white.
Scattered to gregarious on ground in forests, mostly pine.
Edible, with good texture, but not much flavor.
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.
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
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.
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
