Community find

Rosy Gilled Laccaria

Laccaria roseoalbus

Group

gilled mushroom

Season

Late summer and autumn.

Habitat

Typically found growing scattered or in groups on soil among leaf litter or pine needles in coniferous and mixed woods.

Key characteristics

Cap is typically convex to flattened, often with a central depression, and can be pale to dark orange-brown, sometimes with a velvety or finely scaled surface. It measures 1-5 cm across. Gills are adnate to slightly decurrent, widely spaced, and distinctively pinkish or rosy. The stem is slender, colored similarly to the cap, and may have a slightly fibrillose (fibrous) texture, reaching 2-8 cm in height. It sometimes shows bluish or purplish tints at the base. Spore print is white.

Look-alikes

Laccaria laccata (Deceiver) is very similar but usually lacks the distinct rosy tint in its gills. Laccaria amethystina (Amethyst Deceiver) has a purple cap and gills. Other Laccaria species can be difficult to distinguish without microscopic examination.

Ecological role

Mycorrhizal, forming a symbiotic relationship with trees, primarily conifers. The fungus helps the trees absorb water and nutrients from the soil, while the trees provide carbohydrates to the fungus.