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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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Purple laccaria (Laccaria ochropurpurea) is an edible mushroom that fruits late summer-fall. It can be found in association with hardwood trees, particularly oak and beech, or white pine.
Purple laccaria has a cream to violet-gray colored cap. The cap is convex at first, flattening with age. The gills are purple, lightening with age. The fibrous stem is colored the same as the cap. Spore print is white.
Purple laccaria have an earthy flavor. The stem is often discarded as it is tough. The caps can be sauteed, grilled, or roasted. They are often mixed with other mushroom species. They also dry well to preserve for future use.
Purple laccaria could be confused with purple-colored Cortinarius mushrooms. The gills of Cortinarius mushrooms eventually turn rusty-brown. Cortinarius mushrooms have a rusty-brown spore print. Many Cortinarius species are not recommended for consumption.
Purple laccaria could also be confused for the Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina) which is a smaller mushroom with a violet-colored cap and stem. The amethyst deceiver is edible but can absorb arsenic from the soil.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
