Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)

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Cap: 1-5cm deep lilac or purple (but lighter when dry). Initially convex then flattened and sometimes slightly concave.

Gills: Adnate or slightly decurrent. Widely spaced and powdery. Same colour as the cap.

Stem: Thin and tough. Same base-colour as cap with white fibres near the cap.

Spores: White

Flesh: Thin and lilac coloured.

Habitat: On the ground in mixed woodland

Frequency: Very Common

Season:  Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sep  Oct  Nov  Dec 

Edibility: Edible

Eating notes: The stem is tough and should be discarded before cooking. The favour isn't top-rank, but the colour is retained during cooking, so it can add visual interest to a dish.

Preserving: Dries easily.