Inocybe lilacina

Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina 8532

Inocybe lilacina Matheny & Swenie

This is a small lavender mushroom that is mycorrhizal with both conifers and hardwoods. The cap is campanulate to conical with a pointed disc, dry and silky smooth. It initially has a cob-webby veil which serves to protect the immature whitish gills and developing spores. It disappears once the cap has expanded. As the spores mature and are released, the white gills turn brownish. The margin frequently splits as the cap opens. This mushroom has a spermatic odor that can be detected by squishing the flesh with your fingers. The stem, like the cap, is dry and smooth. Not edible. It is in the Inocybaceae family of the Agaricales order.