Amethyst Deceiver l Startling Fungus

Amethyst Deceiver, Laccaria amethystina — Source: https://bit.ly/3oCGkDp Photo: TJ Gehling CCL: https://bit.ly/3yszcOm

Amethyst Deceiver Facts

This stunning creation of Nature and evolution most frequently goes by the attention-grabbing common name of Amethyst Deceiver. Presently, the fungus does have at least one other general title by which it’s known, though. That’s the very similar term of amethyst laccaria.
Within the scientific community, however, it’s possibly much better known by its purely technical designation. Like most such tags, though, that one’s somewhat difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because it currently holds the epithet Laccaria amethystina.
Originally, this gorgeous form of life held a different, but quite similar epithet. The highly respected British botantist William Hudson achieved the first recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He actually achieved that scientifically noteworthy deed in the year 1778.
At that time, he applied the name Agaricus amethystinus. In the years since that time, however, it’s been given many different names, and once even place within a different Genus. Eventually, the Bristish botanists William Hudson and Mordecai Cooke gave it the one it holds now.
Fortunately, the amazing Amethyst Deceiver appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. This pleasant state also seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its range. The IUCN therefore presently does not show it on the organization’s Red List.
It nevertheless should still be considered as facing numerous threats to its continued existence as a species. Like all forms of life on earth today, the majority of dangers it faces stem from the actions of humans. These perils include the problems of habitat loss and climate change.

Bleeding Tooth Fungus, Hydnellum peckii — Bleeding Tooth

Amethyst Deceiver Physical Description

The magnificent Amethyst Deceiver rarely fails to capture the interest and attention of those individuals fortunate enough to encounter it. Unlike some of its many kin around the world, though, it does not do so due to physical size. In that respect, it’s an average-sized variety of mushroom.

The stem of this wonder develops as quite short in nature. It’s also hollow, fibrous, and relatively tough to the touch. In terms of height, this aspect of the fungus attains an average stretch of 0.25 – 2.75 in (0.6 – 7cm). It’s also quite thin, attaining a mean thickness of 0.16 – 0.25 in (0.1 – 0.7 cm).

The cap itself, however, naturally grows to a larger size than this part of the mushroom. As a general principle, it reaches up to 2.25 in (6 cm) in diameter, though most stay slightly smaller. When this first develops, it has a convex shape, which slowly flattens, with a central depression developing.

Without doubt, though, it’s the stunning color of the aptly-named Amethyst Deceiver that typically garners the most attention from its viewers. The cap and stem present the same scheme, consisting of deep purplish lilac shade, though this dazzling appears fades somewhat upon drying out.

The great majority of individual specimens of this awesome fungus also display a fascinating pattern of natural striations. These features most commonly appear along the edges of the cap, and display an even paler shade than the remainder. Its interior flesh boasts neither a discernible scent or color.

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Hydnangiaceae
Genus: Laccaria
Species: L. amethystina

Amethyst Deceiver Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Quite fortunately, the Amethyst Deceiver evolved as native to a surprisingly wide swathe of the world. In point of fact, it appears in specific regions of Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. The vast majority of populations, though, most often appear in northern regions.

It also shows a remarkable versatility in terms of the habitats that it chooses to inhabit. That’s due to the fact that it appears in both deciduous and coniferous forests. The species, does, though, display a pronounced preference for temperate zones within this same geographical range.

Even more amazingly, a minor mystery presently exists regarding its most common choice of habitat. For reasons that continue to mystify researchers, most observed specimens appear in the immediate vicinity of only certain types of trees. These species consist of both beech and oak trees.

As with all recognized species mushroom, the Amethyst Deceiver reproduces via spores. In its specific case, though, these develop as relatively large in size. It presently remains undetermined if this fact accounts for its tendency to appear only singly or in small groupings in any one location.

Though not commonly consumed by humans, since most consider its flesh to be tasteless, it nonetheless remains fully edible, though only technically. This slightly confusing state exists due to a somewhat surprising fact. Most often, specimens actually qualify as mildly toxic in nature.

Intriguingly, its own genetic structure actually contains no known toxic compounds. However, it slowly evolved as extremely sensitive to any naturally occurring arsenic in the soil in which it appears. When this compound’s present, the fungus absorbs it into its flesh, rendering it toxic, too.