fungus · The Trophy Room
Western Amethyst Laccaria
Mystery solved. This curvaceous Washington specimen is the western amethyst Laccaria — a purple-gilled woodland mushroom whose violet color can fade toward pinkish brown with age. Its thick, waxy-looking gills and fibrous stem place it squarely in the Laccaria field-book family.
Identifying
- violet to purple cap and gills, often fading toward pinkish tan or brown as the mushroom ages
- fairly thick, waxy-looking gills rather than the thin crowded blades of many woodland mushrooms
- a long, slender, shaggy-fibrous stem with the same purple-to-muted color range
- a western North American forest species associated with trees, commonly encountered in Pacific Northwest woodland
Field Notes
- the accepted scientific name is Laccaria amethysteo-occidentalis; the common name is western amethyst Laccaria
- Laccaria species are ectomycorrhizal — their underground fungal network partners with forest trees
- mushroom safety still applies: a photo and online field card are not edibility clearance; confirm a specimen in person before considering consumption
Field Kitchen status
No recipe yet: a photo and field name are not enough to make an edibility recommendation.
