Abundant in Central, South, and North America as well as Europe and Asia, the amethyst deceiver appears in troops and fairy rings from summer to early winter in both coniferous and deciduous woodlands. It grows in moss, leaf litter, and needles, and is often associated with oak and beech. Loving moisture, it sometimes grows in marshes and bogs. The mushroom stands 2 to 4.5 inches tall and has a cap ¾ to 2 ¾ across. The cap, gills and stem are all violet-colored when young but the color fades with age. The dry felty cap is convex at first but spreads with age and develops a central navel. The margin is inrolled and striated. The thick gills are widely spaced and uneven. The long, slender stem is ¼ to 3/8 inches in diameter, fibrose, and deeply furrowed, with a white felting on its base. The spores are white to lilac.
The amethyst deceiver is considered edible although not choice because the stem is too tough to eat and the flesh of the cap thin. Still, it is worthy of the table for its pleasant flavor that goes well with meats and eggs. Special care should be used in cleaning the gills as they easily collect dirt. Mushrooms can be stored by drying. Although the mushrooms are not inherently poisonous they will take up and accumulate arsenic from soils containing high levels of the element.
Amethyst deceiver has some look-alikes that are poisonous so expert advice should be sought for identification before eating them.
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