Field blewit or Violet webcap

Cap 5-12 cm across, hemispherical to convex with an inrolled margin when young, later flattening out with a broad, low hump at the center. Color grayish-cream, grayish-brown, with a pale lilac tint when young, fading to dingy cream with age. Surface silky-matte, smooth, slightly sticky in wet weather.

Cap 5-15 cm across, hemispherical with an inrolled margin in young mushrooms, later becoming convex-flat with a low umbo. Color deep violet, inky purple, almost black in the center. Surface velvety-scaly, with fine violet-inky scales — a hallmark of the species. In damp weather it looks matte and velvety.

Gilled hymenophore. Gills crowded, thin, notched at the stem, easily detached. Color whitish to pale cream when young, creamy-ochre with age. Spore print pale pinkish-cream (typical of the genus Lepista).

Gills — attached to the stem, moderately spaced, deep violet, darkening with age to purple-black, then to rusty brown as the spore powder ripens. Spore print rusty brown. In young mushrooms the gills are covered by a cobweb-like partial veil (cortina) with a purple tint.

Stem sturdy: 4-8 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, cylindrical or slightly thickened toward the base. The key feature is an intense lilac-violet color, especially in the lower part of the stem. Paler toward the top, down to dingy cream. Surface lengthwise fibrous, with whitish mycelial down at the very base. No ring.

Stem 8-12 cm tall, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, cylindrical, thick and fleshy, with a bulbous swelling at the base. Color deep violet, matching the cap, paler toward the base. The surface has fine violet fibers. Remnants of the cobwebby cortina on the stem — purple in young mushrooms, covered in rusty-brown spores in old ones.

Flesh thick, white, dense, meaty. Does not change color when cut. Has a pleasant fruity, perfumed aroma.

Flesh firm, violet in young mushrooms, turning gray-violet to brownish with age. When cut, it does not change color. Smell faint, mushroomy; in some populations with a hint of cedar.

Pleasant, fruity and perfumed, with a note of ripe fruit — typical of the genus Lepista. One of the most distinctive and recognizable scents of the late-autumn forest. Taste mild, delicate.

Faint, pleasant and mushroomy, with a subtle resinous or cedar note in some populations.