Page 227 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

GILLED MUSHROOMS

Amethyst Deceiver, Laccaria
amethysteo-occidentalis

(HYDNANGIACEAE)

Dick Culbert, CC-BY-2.0
Walter Siegmund, CC-BY-SA-3.0

AMETHYST DECEIVER is a common, slender mush- Spore print: white, or tinged purple
room that is widely distributed west of the Rocky EDIBLE PARTS: cap
Mountains. Forming sparse or dense colonies on for-
HOW TO EAT: Beautifully colored and pleasant-
est floors, it grows under conifers, especially pines.
ly textured, Amethyst Deceivers are mild in flavor
While these mushrooms fruit year-round, they prefer
and work well as a supporting ingredient in stews
cool to cold temperatures.
or soups. Remove their tough, sinewy stems before
CAP: With a width of 0.8-2.75 inches (2-7cm), caps cooking. A good mushroom for beginners.
begin convex, becoming nearly flat. They often devel-
AMETHYST DECEIVER AND LENTILS: Ingredients:
op a central depression, sometimes a hole. The mar-
1 cup Amethyst Deceivers, 7 oz. (200 g) Puy len-
gins are even or uplifted, frequently becoming wavy.
tils, 1 garlic clove (crushed), rosemary sprigs (finely
The surface may be finely scaly. Moist mushrooms are
chopped), 1-quart chicken stock, 1 lemon, 2 tsp. olive
deep purple, fading to brown as they dry. Their thin
oil, knob of butter, black pepper, salt. In a pan, add len-
flesh is light-purple to whitish with a mild scent.
tils, stock, lemon juice, and oil. Cover and simmer for
GILLS: Thick, considerably spaced, and sometimes 30 min. Sauté amethyst deceivers in butter with garlic
waxy, the gills may be adnate (broadly attached) or and rosemary. Combine with lentils and season with
decurrent (attached and extending down the stipe). salt and pepper.
While their bright-violet hue dulls with maturity and POTENTIALLY TOXIC LOOK-ALIKES: L. trullisata’s
accumulates white spores, the purple coloration nev-
long, smooth spores are 16-22 µ. It grows exclusively
er leaves entirely.
in sand or dunes. Edibility is unknown.
SPORES: 7.5-10.5 x 7-9 µ, broadly elliptical, spiny;
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