John Miller
Purple mushrooms are a rare find, but a delightful sight on strolls through the forest. One of the most well-known purple mushrooms is the violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus), which has vibrant purple gills, cap, and stem. It is sometimes considered edible, but not particularly tasty, and its similarity to toxic species makes it risky to eat. Other purple mushrooms include the amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina), which is also technically edible, and the indigo milk cap, which is found in southern and eastern North America and sold in rural markets in Guatemala, Mexico, and Yunnan Province in southwest China.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Violet Webcap, Cortinarius Violaceus |
| Colour | Dark Purple, Violet |
| Cap | 6 inches across, velvety-scaly |
| Stipe | Purple, covered in wool-like fibrils, swollen base |
| Flesh | Violet, mild taste reminiscent of cedar wood |
| Gills | Dark Violet, purplish-brown with age |
| Smell | Pleasant, reminiscent of cedar wood |
| Occurrence | North America, Europe, Asia, British Isles, Western Greenland |
| Habitat | Conifer forests, deciduous forests, limestone and chalk-rich woodland habitats |
| Edibility | Varied reports, some say edible, some say inedible |
| Similar Species | Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina), Indigo Milk Cap |
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What You'll Learn
Violet Webcap (Cortinarius violaceus)
The violet webcap is entirely violet, purple or blue, sometimes so dark that it appears black. The cap can be up to 12 cm in diameter, with the entire mushroom measuring up to 15 cm across. The stipe (stem) is a similar colour to the cap and is covered in wool-like fibrils. The flesh is a darker shade of violet and has a mild taste, with a slight, pleasant smell reminiscent of cedar wood. The gills are dark violet, turning purplish-brown with age. The gills of immature specimens are covered by a purple, web-like partial veil, which is called a cortina. This veil breaks as the cap expands.
The violet webcap is a mycorrhizal species, meaning the underground portion of the fungus (the mycelium) engages in a mutually beneficial nutrient exchange with the roots of host trees. It is found predominantly in conifer forests in North America and deciduous forests in Europe, with occasional growth in the subarctic regions of western Greenland. It grows in limestone and chalk-rich woodland habitats, mainly under beeches and other broadleaf trees, but also occasionally with conifers.
The edibility of the violet webcap is a subject of debate. Some sources claim it is edible, while others state it is inedible. Its similarity to some other inedible or toxic webcaps makes it risky to consume. The colour of the violet webcap is caused by an elusive pigment that was only identified in 1998. This pigment is an iron(III) complex of (R)-3′,4′-dihydroxy-β-phenylalanine [(R)-β-dopa]. The violet webcap's fruiting bodies contain around 100 times more iron than those of most other fungi.
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Amethyst deceiver (Laccaria amethystina)
The Amethyst Deceiver, or Laccaria amethystina, is a gilled, cap-and-stipe mushroom that produces enchanting amethyst purple fruiting bodies. The cap is initially convex, later flattening, with a central depression, and has a diameter of up to 6 centimetres (2+1⁄4 in). The stem is the same colour as the cap and has whitish fibrils at the base, which become mealy at the top.
Laccaria amethystina is widespread and common in Britain, Ireland, mainland Europe, Asia, and North America. In North America, the mushrooms fruit from late spring through summer and can be found primarily with hardwoods, especially beeches. In Britain and Ireland, they can be found growing in broadleaved and coniferous woodlands during late summer and autumn.
While Laccaria amethystina is technically edible, it is similar in appearance to several poisonous purple mushrooms, including the Lilac Fibrecap and Cortinarius violaceus. As such, it is important to never consume mushrooms that cannot be positively identified. The fibrous stems of Laccaria amethystina are also tough and inedible, so only the caps are worth collecting. Additionally, researchers have found that this species may contain harmful levels of elemental arsenic when growing in contaminated soils.
Laccaria amethystina has had many binomials over the years, but most reference the amethyst coloration of the cap. It was once placed in the genus Collybia, as Collybia amethystina, due in part to its tough collybioid-like stem. Its present binomial places it in Laccaria, with the specific epithet amethystina, a pairing first used by Cooke in 1884.
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Indigo milk cap
Purple mushrooms are quite delightful to come across, though they are not very common. One such mushroom is the Indigo milk cap, or Lactarius indigo, a well-known edible species with a unique indigo blue to silvery or grayish-blue colour. The mushroom's specific epithet, 'indigo', is derived from the Latin word meaning 'indigo blue'. The blue colour is due to (7-isopropenyl-4-methylazulen-1-yl)methyl stearate, an organic derivative of azulene.
The Indigo milk cap has a solid and firm interior that develops a hollow with age. Its attachment to the cap is usually central, though it may also be off-center. The cap is initially sticky or slimy to the touch, but it dries out as it ages. The Indigo milk cap is often found in Virginia and Texas, typically along the sides of muddy ditches under grasses and weeds, with loblolly pine nearby.
The Indigo milk cap is considered edible, though opinions vary on its desirability. American mycologist David Arora considers it a "superior edible", while a field guide on Kansas fungi rates it as "mediocre in quality". It may have a slightly bitter or peppery taste, and a coarse, grainy texture. The mushroom is best prepared by cutting it into thin slices, as the blue colour disappears with cooking, and the mushroom turns grayish.
The Indigo milk cap is sold in Guatemalan markets from May to October, and individuals in Mexico also harvest the wild mushrooms for sale at farmers' markets, typically from June to November. However, it is considered a "second-class" species for consumption in Mexico.
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Sky blue mushroom
Sky-Blue Mushroom
The sky-blue mushroom, or Entoloma hochstetteri, is a species of mushroom native to New Zealand. It is also found in India and Australia, though it is unclear whether these are the same species. The Māori name for the mushroom is werewere-kōkako, owing to its colour being similar to the blue wattle of the kōkako bird. The Ngāi Tūhoe people have a legend about the kōkako bird getting its blue wattle from rubbing its cheek against the mushroom.
The werewere-kōkako mushroom is small, with a cap of up to 4 cm in diameter and a conical shape. The cap colour is indigo-blue with a green tint, and the gills are thin and the same colour as the cap, sometimes with a yellow tint. The stipe (stalk) is cylindrical and can be up to 5 cm long and 0.5 cm thick. The gills and spore prints are rosy. The blue colour of the fruit body is due to azulene pigments.
The mushrooms often appear singly or in pairs and fruit in New Zealand's summer and autumn, from January to July. They can be found in leaf litter, near moss, or beneath mature trees. They are considered beautiful and have been featured on a New Zealand postage stamp and on the country's $50 note, making it the only banknote in the world to feature a mushroom.
While many members of the Entoloma genus are poisonous, it is unknown whether E. hochstetteri is toxic. According to mycologist Mahajabeen Padamsee, the mushrooms are not psychedelic.
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Violet Cortinarius
The violet webcap is a mycorrhizal species, meaning the filamentous, underground portion of the fungus (the mycelium) engages in a mutually beneficial nutrient exchange with the roots of host trees. It forms symbiotic relationships with the roots of various plant species and is found predominantly in conifer forests in North America and deciduous forests in Europe. It can also be found in Asia, where it occurs in temperate forested regions, and occasionally in the subarctic regions of western Greenland. In Britain and Ireland, it is a very rare find, growing in limestone and chalk-rich woodland habitats mainly under beeches and other broadleaf trees.
The fruit bodies of the violet webcap are dark purple mushrooms with caps up to 15 cm (6 in) across, sporting gills underneath. The stalk measures 6 to 12 centimetres (2+1⁄3 to 4+2⁄3 in) by 1 to 2 cm (3⁄8 to 3⁄4 in), sometimes with a thicker base. The dark flesh has a mild taste and a slight, pleasant smell, reminiscent of cedar wood. The gills are dark violet, changing to a purplish-brown with age. The mushroom stains red when in contact with potassium hydroxide (KOH).
The edibility of the violet webcap is a subject of debate. Some sources claim it is edible, while others consider it inedible or even toxic. Its similarity to some other inedible or toxic webcaps renders it risky to eat. The taste after cooking is reportedly bitter.
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Frequently asked questions
Purple mushrooms are colourful fungi that are a delight to come across on strolls through the forest. They are typically the most vivid and striking when young, as their purple colouration often fades with age and weathering.
Some examples of purple mushrooms include the Violet Webcap (Cortinarius violaceus), the Indigo Milk Cap, the Sky Blue Mushroom, and the Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina).
Purple mushrooms can be found in various regions across the globe, depending on the species. For example, the Violet Webcap is found in temperate forests of North America, Europe, and Asia, while the Amethyst Deceiver is commonly found in temperate forested regions across Asia, northern South America, Central America, eastern North America, and Europe.
The edibility of purple mushrooms varies depending on the species. Some purple mushrooms, like the Violet Webcap and the Amethyst Deceiver, are considered edible by some sources, while others consider them inedible or not recommended for consumption due to their similarity to toxic species. It is always best to seek advice from a local expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
