Amethyst Deceiver - Laccaria amethystina

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Description

The purple/lilac colour of cap, gills and stipe and the thick widely spaced gills are distinctive in wet weather; it dries to a pale lilac or buff colour. 

Similar Species

When dry it can be very similar to the common Deceiver, Laccaria laccata

Identification difficulty
Habitat

It is found in both coniferous and deciduous woodland, often with Beech.

When to see it

Late Summer to early Winter.

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Further Information

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/laccaria-amethystina.php

  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    01 October 2004
  • Barbara Cooper
    Beacon Hill
    01 October 2015
    the cap becomes pale lilac with age
  • Kate Nightingale
    Ulverscroft
    23 September 2015
    Growing in soil on discarded drinks can
  • AJ Cann
    Charley Woods
    27 September 2015
  • AJ Cann
    Launde Big Wood
    24 September 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    07 November 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    07 November 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Amethyst Deceiver
Species group:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Hydnangiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
79
First record:
01/10/2004 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
28/10/2025 (Chessman-Smith, Sophie)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common
    03 September 2010
    gills
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    07 November 2013
  • AJ Cann
    Martinshaw
    01 October 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    27 October 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    22 October 2005
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common
    07 November 2013
  • Steve Mathers
    Beacon Hill Country Park
    04 October 2016
  • Kate Nightingale
    Ulverscroft
    23 September 2015
    Growing in soil on discarded drinks can
  • AJ Cann
    Martinshaw
    01 October 2016
  • AJ Cann
    Launde Big Wood
    24 September 2016
  • Barbara Cooper
    Beacon Hill
    01 October 2015
  • Steve Mathers
    Beacon Hill Country Park
    04 October 2016
  • Steve Mathers
    Beacon Hill Country Park
    04 October 2016