wild mushroom in need of ID...

[Mermaidia]

These were found in a subdivision about 100 ft. from a creek.
They seem to be bruising a purplish color, these pics don't due them justice.
Also the gill look purple, no print has been taken yet and no plan too either.
Can anyone id these, please?

[Bobcat]

Kind of look like Lepista nuda to me.... but don't go eating them just on that!


Hmmm, maybe not tho. need to see older ones maybe, with the cap inside out. To see if the gills are attached.

Nevermind. I dunno.

[edit. Okay, changed my mind again. I think they are L. nuda. or Clitocybe nuda (synonym). see here: http://forums.mycotopia.net/showthre...t=lepista+nuda (Clitocybe/Lepista Nuda (Blewit's)) ]

[Mermaidia]

Ok here is a look at the inside...

[Bobcat]

Well, I stand by my id, but you may want to ask srgtm1a or another for a second opinion.

The problem with id'ing edible mushies is that when you are right you are just right. But when you are wrong.... You are dead wrong.

yeah we just thought it was nice looking, the purple and all...

I dont plan to eat any mushroom unless a foaf grows it or it comes from the supermarket.hehe

I'm just wanting to start learning more about different mushrooms that grow in my area.

thx

[max]

Looks like a cortinarius specie...many are purple, no veil, very common. Pretty to look at but not really edible.

[Bobcat]

"While there are other purple mushrooms, some of which are poisonous, they can be fairly easily distinguished from Clitocybe nuda. Inocybe species have brown gills and spores when mature. Purple Cortinarius species have a cortina when young, and have rusty-brown spores. Mycena pura is small and slender, and has white spores. Purplish Laccaria species like Laccaria amethystina have tough, fibrous stems; they are white-spored and edible. Bluish Entoloma and Leptonia species are not nearly as purple."

http://mushroomexpert.com/clitocybe_nuda.html

i believe they are clitocybe or lepista nuda. the spore print should be buff or pinkish tan. they grow in leaf litter or pine needles here locally and fruit in staggering numbers in the right woods. there is a greater and lesser form of this mushroom, however they both taste very good ..rich even. some ppl claim they taste too mushroomy. they colonize piles of grass clippings or the edges of compost piles easily by just throwing mushroom caps in these areas....or in the duff under windbreak pines.another macro feature to look for especially in the lessers is a tendency to grow with an offcenter "foot" at the base of the stipe. lepista nudas also dehydrate very quickly and are therefore a great mushroom to preserve for the winter. as mentioned in above posts cortinarius and inocybe contain species of similar looking purple/violet mushrooms. both of these tend to fruit just before l. nuda and therefore early collections should be scrutinized carefully.

[max]

This illustrates the difficulty in trying to id mushrooms by picture alone.
Smell your specimens. Cortinarius should have a strong pungent smell. Lepista nuda should have a more fragant agreeable odour.

[Bobcat]

Ahhh, the nose...... Good point Captain! And one rarely discussed. A mushrooms smell is very important in close calls.

Are you guys sure your not going to do any printing? It would help solve the riddle and I would love one! But don't worry about it if not.

[Mermaidia]

The smell very mushroomy to me. Not foul that is for sure.

[Mermaidia]

CM will look for another specimen tomorrow and will print one for ya Bob, no problem. Thank you all for your help.