Page 228 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Deceiver, Laccaria

laccata (HYDNANGIACEAE)

DECEIVER is a common, widely distributed mush- ridges. Colored like the cap, it is sometimes coated with
room. Appearing singly, scattered, or in clusters, it cottony white mycelium at the base.
fruits from spring to fall near hardwoods and coni- SPORES: 7-10 x 6-9 µ, subglobose to globose, short
fers, including alder, beech, birch, and pine. While spines; Spore print: white
characterized by white spores, a sinewy stem, and
EDIBLE PARTS: cap
peachy to dull reddish-brown coloration, this species
HOW TO EAT: Deceivers have a mild, somewhat bland
is often difficult to identify without a microscope.
taste. Seasoning improves them. Use the caps and dis-
CAP: The cap is 0.4-2.4 inches (1-6cm) across, begin-
card the tough stems.
ning convex and flattening with maturity, often with
SAUTEED DECEIVERS: Ingredients: olive oil, 2 lbs.
a shallow depression. The margins, which are some-
(1 kg) Deceiver caps, salt, pepper, 3 garlic cloves
times wavy and uneven, may become flared. When
(minced), ⅓ cup white wine, 1 tbsp. fresh thyme, 1 cup
moist, the smooth to subtly scaly surface is pink-
grated Pecorino. Sauté mushrooms with salt, pepper,
ish-orange, or pinkish to reddish-brown, paling to
and oil for 9 min. Add garlic. Cook for 1 min. Add wine
greyish-pink as it dries. The thin flesh is colored like
and simmer until reduced. Stir in thyme and cheese.
the cap with an indistinct odor.
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Funnelcaps, Clitocybe
GILLS: Broadly attached to the stem or slightly decur-
rent, the gills are waxy, well-separated, and pale pink- spp. - gills decurrent; some Waxy caps, Hygropho-
rus spp. - slimy appearance; some Coincaps, Collybia
ish to orange-buff. They are finely coated with white
spp. - do not have pinkish waxy gills; Mycena pura
spores at maturity.
- spores 6-10 x 3-4 µ; long-elliptical or nearly cylin-
STEM: The dry, slender stem is 0.8-4 inches (2-10cm)
drical; Inocybe geophylla var lilacina - spore print
long, up to 0.4 inches (1cm) wide, and nearly equal. Its
brown. Other poisonous look-alikes exist.
surface is smooth or minutely scaly with tiny vertical
227