Emily Johnson
Purple mushrooms do exist, and they are fascinating! From the Cortinarius violaceus, or Violet Webcap, with its dark purple cap and gills, to the vivid blue sky blue mushroom of New Zealand and India, the world of fungi offers a rich palette of colours, shapes, and textures. Some purple mushrooms, like the Amethyst Deceiver, are edible, while others, like the Inocybe lilacina, are poisonous. With such a variety of species, it's no wonder that mushrooms have captured the imagination of foragers, mycologists, and nature enthusiasts alike.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Names of purple mushrooms | Cortinarius violaceus, Violet Webcap mushroom, Amethyst Deceiver, Viscid Violet Cort (Cortinarius iodes), Indigo Milk Cap, Sky Blue Mushroom |
| Mushroom colour | Dark purple, violet, purple, lilac, blue, indigo |
| Edibility | Some purple mushrooms are edible, some are inedible, and some are poisonous. |
| Taste | Bitter, mild to acrid |
| Mushroom cap colour | Purple, lilac, white, yellow, blue |
| Mushroom cap shape | Rounded, flat, conical, convex, bell-shaped |
| Mushroom size | 1.5-5 cm, 4-6 cm long, 0.2-0.8 cm diameter, 2 1/2 inches in diameter |
| Mushroom habitat | North America, Europe, Asia, oak forests, deciduous and coniferous forests, limestone and chalk-rich woodland habitats |
| Mushroom season | Late summer, autumn |
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What You'll Learn
- The Amethyst Deceiver is a bright lilac-coloured edible mushroom
- Cortinarius violaceus, also known as the Violet Webcap mushroom, is a type of purple mushroom
- The Indigo Milk Cap is a violet mushroom with edible and inoffensive qualities
- The Sky Blue mushroom is vivid blue and cone-capped, found in New Zealand and India
- Cortinarius iodes, or Viscid Violet Cort, is a purple mushroom with a slimy cap
The Amethyst Deceiver is a bright lilac-coloured edible mushroom
The Amethyst Deceiver, also known as Laccaria amethystina, is a bright lilac-coloured edible mushroom. It was first described in 1778 by the English botanist William Hudson, who named it Agaricus amethystinus. The specific epithet "amethystina" refers to the amethyst colouring of the fresh cap of this woodland mushroom. The cap is up to 6 centimetres (2+1⁄4 in) in diameter, and is initially convex, later flattening, typically with a central depression (navel). When moist, it is a deep purplish lilac, which fades upon drying out. The Amethyst Deceiver is quite distinctive when young due to its deep purple colour. However, caution should be exercised with older specimens as they can fade and appear more tinged than purple.
The Amethyst Deceiver is commonly found in mixed woodland, particularly with oak and beech trees. It is often found in the same locations as the potentially deadly Lilac Fibrecap (Inocybe lilacina), which has off-white or grey gills, whereas the Amethyst Deceiver has the same colour in the cap, gills, and stem. The Amethyst Deceiver is also similar to some Cortinarius mushrooms, which are purple but generally bigger and inedible due to their bitter taste.
The Amethyst Deceiver is considered edible, although it takes a large quantity to make a meal due to its small size. The fibrous stems of these mushrooms are tough and inedible, so only the caps are consumed. It is recommended to cook all wild mushrooms before consumption, as they may contain harmful toxins. While the Amethyst Deceiver is a safe option among purple mushrooms, there are some rarer varieties that can be consumed as long as they are properly identified.
The Amethyst Deceiver has had various binomials over the years, reflecting its amethyst coloration. In 1922, it was named as a variety of L. laccata, var. amethystina (Cooke) Rea. Its present binomial, Laccaria amethystina, was first used by Cooke in 1884. Synonyms of Laccaria amethystina include Agaricus amethysteus, Laccaria amethystea, and Omphalia amethystea, among others.
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Cortinarius violaceus, also known as the Violet Webcap mushroom, is a type of purple mushroom
Cortinarius violaceus, commonly known as the Violet Webcap mushroom, is a type of purple mushroom. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and has since undergone several name changes. The species was designated as the type species for the genus Cortinarius by Frederic Clements and Cornelius Lott Shear in 1931. Mycologist David Arora finds this odd due to the mushroom's unusual colour and cystidia.
The Violet Webcap is entirely violet, purple or blue, sometimes so dark that it appears black. Its cap can reach up to 12 cm in diameter. The mushroom's colour is caused by an elusive pigment, an iron(III) complex of (R)-3′,4′-dihydroxy-β-phenylalanine [(R)-β-dopa], which dissolves in water, turning the liquid dark purple before fading to blackish-grey. The Violet Webcap's gills are dark violet, changing to a purplish-brown with age. The mushroom stains red when in contact with potassium hydroxide (KOH).
Cortinarius violaceus is found across North America, Europe, and Asia. However, it is not common anywhere in Europe and is listed as endangered in the British Isles. It grows in limestone and chalk-rich woodland habitats, mainly under broadleaf trees such as beeches and occasionally with conifers. It is a mushroom of late summer and autumn.
While some authorities consider the Violet Webcap to be an edible mushroom, others disagree. The mushroom's similarity to some inedible or toxic webcaps makes it risky to consume. The taste after cooking is reportedly bitter.
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The Indigo Milk Cap is a violet mushroom with edible and inoffensive qualities
Purple mushrooms do exist, and some of them are even edible. One such example is the Indigo Milk Cap, a violet mushroom with edible and inoffensive qualities. Also known as the Lactarius indigo, this mushroom has a distinctive appearance with its vibrant blue colour and gill structure. Its specific epithet, indigo, is derived from the Latin word for "indigo blue".
The Indigo Milk Cap is a well-known edible species, although opinions vary on its taste and quality. Some consider it a "superior edible", while others rate it as "mediocre in quality". It may have a slightly bitter or peppery taste and a coarse, grainy texture. The firm flesh is typically prepared by slicing the mushroom thinly. The blue colour fades during cooking, resulting in a greyish appearance.
These mushrooms are found around the world, particularly in coniferous forests, and are not limited to North America. They are often discovered under Eastern White Pine trees, fruiting from late summer through fall. The amount of truly blue food in the world is quite rare, making the Indigo Milk Cap a fascinating find.
The Indigo Milk Cap has a cap diameter ranging from 4 to 15 cm, initially convex, and later developing a central depression. The gills are indigo blue, sometimes staining green when damaged, and are crowded close together. The stem is solid and firm, typically 1-2.5 cm thick, although it may hollow with age. The mushroom gets its blue colour from (7-isopropenyl-4-methylazulen-1-yl) methyl stearate, an organic derivative of azulene.
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The Sky Blue mushroom is vivid blue and cone-capped, found in New Zealand and India
There are indeed purple mushrooms, and even blue ones! The Sky Blue mushroom, or Entoloma hochstetteri, is a vivid blue colour with a cone-shaped cap. It is native to New Zealand, where it is commonly found in forests, and has also been recorded in India. The blue colour of the mushroom's fruit body is due to azulene pigments, which can also be found in some marine invertebrates.
The Sky Blue mushroom is small, usually only a couple of inches tall, and fruits in the summer and autumn, from January to July. It typically appears on its own, in pairs, or in very small clusters. The Māori name for the mushroom is werewere-kōkako, because its colour is similar to the blue wattle of the kōkako bird, which is endemic to New Zealand.
The Sky Blue mushroom is considered New Zealand's national fungus and was featured on a set of fungal stamps and $50 banknotes issued in the country. While it is widely admired for its distinctive appearance, it is unknown whether the Sky Blue mushroom is edible or poisonous.
Another blue mushroom is the denim-coloured indigo milkcap, found mostly in North and Central America. This mushroom gets its colour from a pigment called 1-stearoyloxymethylene-4-methyl-7-isopropenylazulene.
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Cortinarius iodes, or Viscid Violet Cort, is a purple mushroom with a slimy cap
Purple mushrooms do exist, and one such species is Cortinarius iodes, commonly known as the spotted cort or the viscid violet cort. This species of agaric fungus in the family Cortinariaceae has small, slimy caps that can reach up to 6 cm (2+1⁄4 in) in diameter and are purple, developing yellowish spots and streaks as the mushroom matures. The caps are initially bell-shaped and then become broadly convex before flattening in maturity. The cap surface is slimy, particularly in wet weather, and smooth, with a lilac or purplish colour that fades as the mushroom ages. The flesh underneath the cap is white, firm, and thin.
The gills of Cortinarius iodes are violet but change to rusty or grayish-brown as the mushroom matures. The entire mushroom, including the stalk, is coated in a sticky slime. The cobweb-like, pale violet partial veil leaves a zone of thin, purple or rusty fibres on the upper stem. The spore print produced by the mushroom is rusty-brown in colour, and the spores are elliptical with a finely roughened surface, measuring 8–10 by 5–6.5 μm.
Cortinarius iodes is found in the southeastern United States, growing on the ground in a mycorrhizal association with deciduous trees in the Americas and northern Asia. It is considered inedible, although some sources report it as edible. However, consuming this mushroom is not recommended due to the presence of a nearly identical non-edible species, Cortinarius iodeoides, which has bitter-tasting slime.
The best months for observing mushrooms, especially after heavy rain, are September and October. The newly emerged viscid violet cort has a bright purple cap that expands and fades to light lilac or even white or yellowish as it matures. A more mature mushroom has an opened, almost flat cap with yellowish-white spots or streaks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several species of purple mushrooms, including the Amethyst Deceiver, Cortinarius violaceus (Violet Webcap), Cortinarius iodes (Viscid Violet Cort), and Cortinarius alboviolaceus.
While some purple mushrooms, like the Indigo Milk Cap, are edible, others, like the Inocybe lilacina, are poisonous. Even edible mushrooms should be cooked before consumption to destroy any harmful toxins. It is always recommended to seek advice from a local expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
Purple mushrooms can be found in various locations, depending on the species. For example, the Cortinarius violaceus is found across North America, Europe, and Asia, while the Cortinarius iodes is commonly found in eastern North American oak forests. The Amethyst Deceiver is typically found in the leaf litter of coniferous and deciduous woodlands during late summer and autumn.
