Amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)

Hey everyone, I hope you are all doing well and you had a weekend that brought some new experiences into your life! In this article I would like to present a unique mushroom in more detail and hope you are able to expand your knowledge.

This abstract-looking mushroom is also known under the name Amethyst deceiver or scientifically Laccaria amethystina and it is an edible mushroom and the hat is particularly tasty while the stems are rather less suitable for consumption. The typical purple or blue color probably catches the eye which can vary depending on the place of discovery and over time this can change and fade and it is one of the characteristics that the hat can lose color and the slats usually keep their typical color which is reminiscent of the mineral amethyst. Amethyst deceiver can be found already from summer until late in the year in autumn and it is a rather more frequent fungus which can be found in many parts of the world such as in Europe, Asia or America where it is preferably found in deciduous or coniferous forests. Amethyst deceiver is rather small in size and reaches average heights of 5-10 centimeters and in rarer cases it can become even higher and as an edible mushroom, there are different ways to use it and it can be used both fresh or dried and the taste is rather mild and neutral. Even if it is an edible mushroom, there are skeptics who assume that it can absorb high amounts of arsenic and thereby increase toxicity, but this usually refers to areas in which the soil is contaminated and the fungus can also be used as an indicator to learn more about the quality of the soil. As always, it is important to know that you should always be careful when looking for mushrooms and if you do not know if it is the desired one, it can be an advantage to ask someone for additional advice or simply leave the mushroom!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you could learn something new about nature! I captured these pictures with my Camera Sony Alpha 6000 plus 55-210 mm lens.