Tuesday, 14 February 2012

The Deceiver

Facts
Common Name: 
The Deceiver
Scientific Name: 
Laccaria laccata
Cap Diameter (mm): 
Up to 50mm
Stem Height (mm): 
Up to 100mm
Information
Description: 

A common and widespread edible fungus found from Summer until late Autumn.

Distribution: 

Very common and widespread.

Habitat: 

Found on coniferous and braodleaf woodland and also in damp, boggy places.

Cap: 

Initially convex in shape, later becoming flattened and often showing a small navel like depression at the centre. The cap edge is inrolled when young but becomes undulating. The cap colour is brick-red with a striate edge when moist but is a pale ochre colour with a felt like surface when dry.

Flesh: 

The flesh is thin, pale red and fairly tough in the stem. There is a pleasnat smell.

Gills: 

Broadly attached to the stem with a decurrent tooth and are broad, thickish and distant.

Spores: 

White

Stem: 

Thin, coloured like the cap, tough and fibrous, covered at the base with white mycelium.