Purple pleasure
Hey, Doug, this one's for you, LOL! This colour is absolutely genuine, no kidding! I have no idea what species it is, of course, but isn't the colour amazing? Seen this afternoon in the woods at Bowness Park. Added August 2009: thanks to Flickr member oloesel for the ID, Cortinarius iodes. Much appreciated!
Information, received with thanks, from Dr. Suzanne Visser at the University of Calgary:
"I haven't seen any mushrooms in the Calgary area with an intense purple cap such as this one has. I'm not sure about it's identification, but it may be something in the "Gomphidius" group. I've seen "Gomphidius glutinosus" many times in the same area that you saw this one, and, although this species can have a violet cap, I've never seen a specimen with a deep purple cap. Nevertheless, I think it may be either a variant of this species, or perhaps another species in the same or related genus. The slimy cap, dark spores (you can see them on the stem where they form a dark ring) and white tufts on the stem suggest it is either "Gomphidius glutinosus" or something closely related to it. Also, it looks like the base of the stem is yellow (do you remember if it was?), and, if this is the case, it probably is "Gomphidius glutinosus", since this species has a bright yellow stem base. The purple color is spectacular though; maybe, the color intensifies as the temperature falls."
Comments and faves
mcnod, heycarrieann331, Gattou - Lucie Provencher, monika & manfred, and 19 other people added this photo to their favorites.
dougwaylett (57 months ago | reply)
That's an incredible color Anne. What are all the blueish spots in the background?
Glenn R Parker (57 months ago | reply)
great colour. Well done
Where are finding these amazing plants?
annkelliott (57 months ago | reply)
Thank you both!
Doug, oops, I guess the spray can caught more than just the mushroom, LOL! I can't say I noticed any blue or purple spots when I was actually there : ). It was, of course, on a hillside and in a slightly awkward place and I was having great difficulty getting a reasonably sharp photo of it. Didn't look very carefully at the surroundings. My neck still kills, LOL.
Glenn, I come across mushrooms in all sorts of places - I check almost every fallen log, for a start : ). I'm amazed that I have found so many neat ones - I've been very lucky.
New Zealand Wild (57 months ago | reply)
A great capture Anne.
Exposure and sharpness are good.
The colour is great,very similar to our Thaxterogaster
I just had to post a blue one next to it : )
Cheers
Steve
ps ... thanks for adding it to FF too!
Sharon Patricia (57 months ago | reply)
OMg... never seen one like this before.... great find, Anne... that is truly amazing.
Red~Star (57 months ago | reply)
NO way! When I first viewed this mushroom, I thought you did some photoshop. Purple? I've never seen one this color before. I took my camera with me while hiking at daybreak in the woods today looking for mushrooms. I didn't see any. sigh.
Please add this great photo to Nature’s Finest
Tag your photo with "NaturesFinest"
heycarrieann331 (57 months ago | reply)
WOW! i mean WOW!!!!! Faved. THIS is one of the best shrooms I've ever seen. CONGRATS on finding this one!!!!
observed.by.diane (57 months ago | reply)
I've never seen anything like this -- totally amazing Anne.
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Seen in Alberta Captured (?)
Gattou - Lucie Provencher (57 months ago | reply)
Amazing... :o)
Just beautiful !!!!
This is really one of Natures Finest!!>
Janet 59 (57 months ago | reply)
WOWEE! That colour is unbelievable!
catb - (57 months ago | reply)
Never saw one that colour before - looks like something from a kiddies fairy story! Great shot!
monika & manfred (57 months ago | reply)
I love mushroom pictures, and this is fantastic...
This is really one of Natures Finest!!>
LeapFrog! (57 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot of this Hardhat Mushroom ... this is not rare in Alberta and are very common in Calgary!! Excellent find Anne!! Bravo!!
www.wildlandfire.com/pics/misc2/blue.jpg
christopher_p (57 months ago | reply)
OMG!!! A purple mushroom! A first for me! Beautiful!
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Flowers & Plants of the World, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
LeapFrog! (57 months ago | reply)
Here is your mushroom ... it could be a Purple Hemlock Varnish Shelf
www.lesmcglassonphotography.com/Purple mushroom Purchase mt.jpg
or a
Purple Cort (Cortinarius violaceus)
americanmushrooms.com/taxa/Cortinarius_violac eus_01.htm
Hehehe!!
gorpie (57 months ago | reply)
Beautiful colour. It must be a hallucinogenic mushroom.
Silver Pomegranate (56 months ago | reply)
A purple mushroom? What a great find!
LeapFrog! (56 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Flower or Foliage Detail, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
perennialpal (56 months ago | reply)
Quite a site! (I meant sight).... but actually the whole site is.... Wow!
Doug Lloyd (56 months ago | reply)
I have sen a few this color over the years but never discovered their name. Very Pretty
D
Maureclaire (45 months ago | reply)
Whoa !!!
lisaluvz (32 months ago | reply)
wow so glad I stumbled upon your stream - your mushrooms are amazing i love them too!!
New Zealand Wild (32 months ago | reply)
The New Zealand species that looks like this used to be called Thaxterogaster porphyreus.
Since 2002 it has been called Cortinarius porphyroideus.
There are a few images here, a couple are mine www.google.co.nz/images?hl=en&source=imgh p&biw=13...
This is the index fungorum page www.indexfungorum.org/names/NamesRecord.asp?R ecordID=484728