Amethyst deceiver or Deceiver

Q: Can Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver be mixed up?

Yes, they look so similar that people often mix them up. The size, cap color, smell help tell them apart.

Q: How to tell Amethyst deceiver from Deceiver?

The main differences: size: Amethyst deceiver — very small (<3 cm), Deceiver — small (up to 5 cm); cap color: Amethyst deceiver — violet, pink, Deceiver — orange, brown, red; smell: Amethyst deceiver — pleasant, Deceiver — odorless. The full table of characteristics is higher up on this page.

Q: When do Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver grow?

Amethyst deceiver — August–November; Deceiver — August–November. Their seasons overlap, so be especially careful.

How they differ, how to recognize them and which is more dangerous — a mushroom comparison

The short answer

Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver are similar species that can be mixed up while foraging. The main visible difference: size: Amethyst deceiver — very small (<3 cm), Deceiver — small (up to 5 cm). The mushrooms also differ in the following features: cap color, smell, partner trees.

Amethyst deceiver

Laccaria amethystina

EdibleExpert-verified

Deceiver

Laccaria laccata

EdibleExpert-verified

📊 Comparing characteristics

Comparison of characteristics: Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver
Characteristic	Amethyst deceiver	Deceiver
Edibility class	Amethyst deceiver Edible	Deceiver Edible
Season	Amethyst deceiver SummerAutumn	Deceiver SummerAutumn
Use	Amethyst deceiver Cook fresh	Deceiver Cook fresh
Size	Amethyst deceiver Very small (<3 cm)	Deceiver Small (up to 5 cm)
Cap color	Amethyst deceiver VioletPink	Deceiver OrangeBrownRed
Cap shape	Amethyst deceiver Convex	Deceiver Convex
Cap surface	Amethyst deceiver Smooth	Deceiver Smooth
Taste	Amethyst deceiver Mild	Deceiver Mild
Smell	Amethyst deceiver Pleasant	Deceiver Odorless
Flesh color change	Amethyst deceiver No change	Deceiver No change
Hymenophore	Amethyst deceiver Gilled	Deceiver Gilled
Stem	Amethyst deceiver Central	Deceiver Central
Ring (veil)	Amethyst deceiver No ring	Deceiver No ring
Volva	Amethyst deceiver No volva	Deceiver No volva
Substrate	Amethyst deceiver SoilMossForest litter	Deceiver SoilMossForest litter
Nutrition type	Amethyst deceiver Mycorrhizal	Deceiver Mycorrhizal
Partner trees	Amethyst deceiver OakBeechSpruceBirch	Deceiver OakBeechSpruceBirchPine

📅 Seasonality

Amethyst deceiver

Fruiting season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

August – November

Deceiver

Fruiting season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

August – November

🔬 Morphology

Cap

Amethyst deceiver

The cap is small to medium: 2-7 cm across, hemispherical to convex with an inrolled edge in young mushrooms, later convex-flattened with a small bump in the center, or depressed. The color is deep amethyst purple, lilac-purple in fresh, moist mushrooms. As it dries and ages it fades to grayish-lilac, then to pale cream with a purple tinge. The surface is silky-matte, slightly damp in wet weather.

Deceiver

The cap is small: 2-5 cm across, convex in young mushrooms, later flattening out or becoming depressed with a thin, wavy edge. The color is rusty-orange, cinnamon-brick, reddish-brown; in wet weather darker and richer, in dry weather paler and faded (hygrophanous). The surface is silky-matte and smooth; the edge often has fine radial striations.

Hymenophore

Amethyst deceiver

Gilled hymenophore. The gills are widely spaced, thick, attached or slightly decurrent. Their color echoes the cap — deep amethyst purple, with a whitish, floury bloom (spores). The spore print is white.

Deceiver

Gilled hymenophore. The gills are widely spaced and thick, attached or slightly decurrent. Their color echoes the cap: pinkish-orange, cinnamon in old mushrooms, with a characteristic whitish, floury bloom (spores). The spore print is white.

Stem

Amethyst deceiver

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 0.5-1 cm thick, slender, cylindrical, often curved. The color is purple, matching the cap, lengthwise fibrous. At the base — white mycelial fuzz. No ring. The stem becomes hollow in old mushrooms.

Deceiver

Stem 3-7 cm tall, 0.3-0.6 cm thick, slender, cylindrical, often curved. The color is rusty-orange, matching the cap, lengthwise fibrous. At the base — white mycelial fuzz. No ring. The stem becomes hollow in old mushrooms.

Flesh

Amethyst deceiver

Flesh thin, lilac-purple, soft. Doesn't change color when cut. No pronounced taste, faint aroma.

Deceiver

Flesh thin, rusty-cream, soft. Doesn't change color when cut. No pronounced taste.

Smell

Amethyst deceiver

Faint, pleasant mushroomy, neutral. Taste mild, with no particular notes. Not for bold-flavored dishes — nobody picks it for its aroma.

Deceiver

Faint, neutral mushroomy, with no particular notes. Taste mild, not pronounced.

📍 Habitats

Amethyst deceiver

Deciduous forestMixed forestConifer forest

Deceiver

Deciduous forestMixed forestConifer forest

👀 Similar mushrooms — don't mix them up!

Wood blewit

Violet webcap

Deceiver

Sordid blewit

Amethyst deceiver

Split fibrecap

❓ Frequently asked questions

Can Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver be mixed up?

Yes, they look so similar that people often mix them up. The size, cap color, smell help tell them apart.

How to tell Amethyst deceiver from Deceiver?

The main differences: size: Amethyst deceiver — very small (<3 cm), Deceiver — small (up to 5 cm); cap color: Amethyst deceiver — violet, pink, Deceiver — orange, brown, red; smell: Amethyst deceiver — pleasant, Deceiver — odorless. The full table of characteristics is higher up on this page.

Is Deceiver edible?

Deceiver — edible.

When do Amethyst deceiver and Deceiver grow?

Amethyst deceiver — August–November; Deceiver — August–November. Their seasons overlap, so be especially careful.

Sources

[1]Вікіпедія (українська)
[2]Атлас грибів України, Зеров Д.К. (1979)
[3]MycoBank Database
[4]Index Fungorum
[5]GBIF
[6]iNaturalist Ukraine