Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)
Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is a small woodland mushroom found across Europe, North America, and temperate regions worldwide, named for its dramatic color shift from rich orange-brown when wet to near-white when dry. It is one of the most ecologically versatile fungi known, forming partnerships with an exceptionally wide range of host trees — from boreal conifers to tropical oaks — and serving as a documented pioneer species on bare volcanic substrates. As the type species of its entire genus, Laccaria laccata anchors the identity of 85–116 recognized species, and a landmark 2025 molecular study finally gave it the verified DNA reference sequences it had lacked for over 150 years.
Laccaria laccata (Scop.) Cooke — Hydnangiaceae — Agaricales
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) earns its name honestly — few woodland mushrooms shift appearance as dramatically between wet and dry conditions, and none have caused as much taxonomic confusion for as long. Described first in 1772 and formally moved to its own genus in 1884, it remained the type species of Laccaria without a verified DNA reference sequence until 2025, a gap that allowed dozens of distinct species to accumulate under its name in global databases. Understanding this mushroom fully — its biology, its forestry applications, and the honest limits of its cultivation potential — requires cutting through a century of accumulated assumptions.
Interested in this species? Out-Grow carries a liquid culture.
Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Liquid CultureWhat Is the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)?
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is a small-to-medium woodland mushroom in the family Hydnangiaceae (order Agaricales). It is not a decomposer. It does not break down dead wood or leaf litter for nutrition. Instead, it belongs to a guild of fungi called ectomycorrhizal (ECM) species — organisms that form intimate, mutually beneficial partnerships with living tree roots. The fungus wraps the outer cells of tree root tips in a sheath of dense hyphae (thread-like filaments) called the mantle, and inserts additional hyphae between the outermost root cells to form the Hartig net. Through this interface, it delivers water, phosphorus, and nitrogen to the tree; in exchange, the tree provides up to 80–90% of the fungus's carbon supply as photosynthetically fixed sugars.
This dependency is not incidental — it is the defining fact of the species' biology and the most important thing to understand about cultivating it. Without a living tree root actively supplying carbon, L. laccata cannot fruit and cannot sustain itself on conventional cultivation substrates. The genome of its close relative Laccaria bicolor, published in Nature in 2008, confirmed why: the fungus has lost the enzymes needed to break down plant cell walls. It literally cannot feed itself on grain, straw, or sawdust.
Until 2025, L. laccata — the type species anchoring the identity of an entire 85–116-species genus — had no verified DNA reference sequence. A BLAST search of sequences labeled "L. laccata" in global databases recovered approximately 30 distinct biological species mixed together under one name, meaning decades of ecological, forestry, and biochemical research attributed to this species may have included data from multiple different fungi.
What makes the Deceiver remarkable, despite its modest culinary reputation, is its ecological range. It forms confirmed ECM partnerships with a wider variety of host trees than most ectomycorrhizal fungi — bridging boreal conifers (spruce, pine, Douglas fir) and temperate broadleaves (oak, beech, birch, willow) across both hemispheres. This host flexibility, combined with its ability to establish on nearly bare mineral soil, makes it one of the first ECM fungi to colonize disturbed sites, volcanic substrates, and newly planted forest nurseries. It has been studied as a forestry inoculant for over 35 years and documented suppressing root pathogens including Phytophthora cinnamomi and Fusarium oxysporum.
How Is the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Classified?
| Kingdom | Fungi |
| Phylum | Basidiomycota |
| Class | Agaricomycetes |
| Subclass | Agaricomycetidae |
| Order | Agaricales |
| Family | Hydnangiaceae |
| Genus | Laccaria Berk. & Broome (1883) |
| Species | Laccaria laccata (Scop.) Cooke (1884) |
| Index Fungorum ID | 119173 |
The accepted name — Laccaria laccata (Scop.) Cooke — reflects a two-step history. Giovanni Antonio Scopoli first described the species in 1772 in Flora Carniolica, naming it Agaricus laccatus. The name was sanctioned by Elias Magnus Fries (giving it nomenclatural priority under the modern International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants) in 1821. British mycologist Mordecai Cubitt Cooke transferred it to the newly formed genus Laccaria in 1884.
The name Laccaria derives from the Latin lacca, meaning "lacquer," alluding to the glossy surface of young fruiting bodies. The epithet laccata reinforces the same point — "lacquer-coated" — making this a tautological name, a naming convention that doubles down on a single descriptive trait for emphasis.
The synonymy list for L. laccata is unusually long, including Agaricus laccatus Scop. (the basionym), Agaricus incanus Bull., Agaricus farinaceus Huds., Clitocybe laccata (Scop.) P. Kumm., Laccaria affinis (Singer) Bon, and Laccaria scotica (Singer) Contu, among others. Most arose from independent descriptions of the same highly variable organism before its extreme morphological plasticity was appreciated.
A 2025 paper by Dovana et al. (Journal of Fungi 11(8):575) resolved a 150-year gap: L. laccata finally has a lectotype (Schaeffer's 1762 illustration, MycoBank MBT 10026634) and an epitype (Singer specimen C4083, BAFC, Sweden 1964; MycoBank MBT 10026635) with verified GenBank sequences: nrITS PV700553, nrLSU PV700591, RPB2 PV835003. This anchors the species concept to what the authors call the "/Laccaria laccata clade," separating it from the ~30 additional biological species previously mislabeled under this name in databases.
One ongoing dispute concerns the var. pallidifolia (Peck) Peck — a form with nearly globose spores (Q ratio ~1.0–1.1) that is far more common in North America than the formally designated var. laccata (ellipsoid spores, Q >1.2). Mueller (1991) treated them as varieties of one species; other authors have argued for separate species status. This dispute remains unresolved and is rarely discussed in popular identification resources, which typically describe only the globose-spored North American form.
How Do You Identify the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)?
Field identification of the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) requires understanding one central challenge: this is a hygrophanous (moisture-responsive) mushroom that looks entirely different depending on weather. The same individual specimen can appear rich orange-brown in wet conditions and pale buff or near-white in dry ones. Color alone is not a reliable identification character for this species — it is the basis for the common name.
The most reliable field combination for positive identification is the trio of a white spore print, thick and widely-spaced pinkish gills, and distinctive white basal mycelium at the stem base. The stem itself is notably tough and fibrous — a character that distinguishes it from many superficially similar small brown mushrooms. The cap surface is not viscid (not sticky) and lacks a ring or volva.
Lookalike Species
Galerina marginata — Funeral Bell
Most dangerous lookalike. Contains deadly amatoxins. Grows from or directly adjacent to wood (not from bare soil). Has a membranous ring on the stem. Brown spore print. Never consume any small brown woodland mushroom without confirming the absence of a stem ring and wood association.
Laccaria proxima — Scurfy Deceiver
Edible. Larger cap (to 8 cm), noticeably more scurfy or scaly pileus surface, stipe with coarser contrasting fibers. Spores often larger. In many specimens, separation from L. laccata requires microscopy. No practical risk — both edible — but important for accurate documentation.
Laccaria amethystina — Amethyst Deceiver
Edible, but accumulates arsenic more heavily than L. laccata. Distinctly purple-violet when fresh and moist; may fade to dull tan in age. Faded specimens can be genuinely confusing — check for residual lilac tones in gills.
Laccaria bicolor — Bicoloured Deceiver
Edible. Gills with a faint lilac or purple tint; violet mycelium at stipe base. Often separated from L. laccata only by microscopy in field conditions.
Various LBMs — Inocybe and Hebeloma spp.
Small brown mushrooms frequent in the same woodland habitats. Inocybe species have brown spore prints and an earthy smell. Hebeloma has clay-brown spores and a radish odor. Both differ from the Deceiver's white spore print and pink-fleshed gills.
Cortinarius spp. (small species)
Rusty-brown spore print distinguishes all Cortinarius from the Deceiver's white print. Young specimens show a cobweb-like cortina veil across the gills. Some contain dangerous toxins — confirm spore print color before consuming any unfamiliar woodland agaric.
Where Does the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Grow?
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) grows in woodland settings across temperate and boreal regions of both hemispheres, wherever a compatible host tree is present. Its confirmed range (post-2025 epitype concept) includes Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The broader historical concept extends to near-cosmopolitan distribution in temperate forests.
| Region | Typical Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UK / Europe | June–November, peak Sep–Oct | Broadleaf and mixed woodland; most abundant in autumn |
| North America (general) | Spring, summer, fall | Widely distributed in coniferous and mixed forests |
| California (var. pallidifolia) | Winter–spring | Primarily under live oak (Quercus agrifolia) |
| Pacific Northwest | Year-round possible | Year-round occurrence documented; seasonal peaks not well quantified |
The species' host range is exceptionally broad for an ectomycorrhizal fungus. Confirmed hosts from peer-reviewed studies include conifers — Abies spp., Picea abies, Picea mariana, Pinus spp. (including P. sylvestris, P. radiata, P. contorta), Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Tsuga canadensis — alongside broadleaves including Betula pendula, Castanea spp., Fagus spp., Quercus spp., Populus spp., Salix spp., and Nothofagus spp. This spans the Pinaceae (gymnosperms) through Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Salicaceae, and Myrtaceae (angiosperms).
Microhabitat preferences favor moist but well-drained woodland soil with dense leaf litter. The Deceiver is frequently encountered along paths, in grassy woodland edges, and in open ground within woodland — all consistent with its role as a pioneering ECM species that establishes readily in disturbed or newly available soil. When conditions are right, it fruits in large numbers, and its abundance within a woodland patch is sometimes described by mycologists as "weedy." Despite this abundance, its IUCN Global Red List status (assessed March 2025, as part of the first large-scale fungal assessment) is Least Concern, with a stable global population.
Can You Cultivate the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)?
This section requires honesty about what the science shows — because this is where most online resources either fall silent or overstate the possibilities. The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) cannot be fruited using conventional indoor mushroom cultivation methods. This is not a technical hurdle waiting to be overcome with a better substrate recipe. It is a fundamental biological constraint written into the genome of the species.
The genome of the closely related Laccaria bicolor (published in Nature, 2008) confirmed that Laccaria lacks the plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes — the cellulases, hemicellulases, and pectinases — needed to extract energy from grain, straw, sawdust, or any plant-based cultivation substrate. Without a living tree root actively supplying photosynthetically fixed carbon, the fungus cannot accumulate the reserves needed to initiate fruiting bodies. No published peer-reviewed protocol exists for fruiting L. laccata without a living host.
What L. laccata liquid culture can realistically accomplish is something different — and well-supported by over 35 years of peer-reviewed forestry research.
The Real Application: Tree Seedling Inoculation
The primary, best-documented, and scientifically robust use of L. laccata mycelium — including liquid culture mycelium — is as inoculum for tree seedling production and forest restoration. This body of research spans nursery trials on multiple continents and is among the strongest evidence bases for any ectomycorrhizal inoculant.
Propagate in liquid culture or on agar
Liquid culture mycelium grows vigorously in submerged fermentation. Modified Melin-Norkrans (MMN) medium is standard; PDA also supports growth. Optimal pH ~5.0–6.0; temperature ~20–25°C. L. laccata is among the fastest-growing ECM fungi in pure culture.
Formulate as alginate beads (optimal)
Calcium alginate bead inoculum — mycelium immobilized in gel — consistently outperforms loose mycelium in nursery trials, achieving 80–100% mycorrhization at doses of 5 g dry weight/m² in fumigated nursery beds.
Apply to tree seedling roots at sowing
Confirmed compatible hosts include Douglas fir, Norway spruce, European larch, Scots pine, birch, and poplar. Detectable mycorrhizal colonization typically begins ~3 months after inoculation.
Observe forestry outcomes
Peer-reviewed trials document significantly greater mycorrhizal root development, increased seedling height, root collar diameter, and dry matter production versus uninoculated controls. Superior growth in Iceland reclamation trials.
Benefit from biocontrol bonus
L. laccata mycelium inhibits the growth of nearly half of 48 tested root pathogenic fungi, including Phytophthora cinnamomi. Inoculated Douglas fir seedlings showed suppressed Fusarium oxysporum in controlled studies.
Consider helper bacteria (MHB)
Five bacterial strains isolated from L. laccata sporocarps function as mycorrhization helper bacteria (MHB), boosting mycorrhizal root development from 60→90% or 80→100% when co-inoculated at doses as low as 10⁶ cells/m².
For hobbyist applications, the grain-spawn-to-tree-base pathway (colonize sterilized grain with liquid culture, then apply grain spawn near compatible tree roots in a garden or woodland) is a plausible experimental approach consistent with the biology — but it is not yet documented in peer-reviewed literature as a reliable method. It is an experimental application worth exploring, distinct from the well-established alginate-bead nursery method.
What Is in Out-Grow's Laccaria laccata Liquid Culture?
Out-Grow's liquid culture syringe contains living mycelium of Laccaria laccata suspended in a sterile nutrient solution — the same organism used in decades of peer-reviewed forestry inoculation research. The mycelium can be expanded on agar (MMN or PDA at pH 5.0–6.0, 20–25°C), expanded into additional liquid culture, or used directly as inoculum for tree seedling production. Cold storage at 2–5°C extends viability; research documents viable L. laccata cultures stored in sterile water at 5°C for up to 48 months.
This product is suited for experimental woodland cultivation, tree seedling inoculation projects, agar work, and research into ECM symbiosis biology. It is not suited for conventional grain-to-fruiting-body indoor cultivation, as no published protocol exists for this application.
What Bioactive Compounds Does the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Contain?
The chemistry of the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) fruiting body has been studied in limited but meaningful detail. All findings described here are from in vitro (laboratory) studies on fruiting body extracts — no animal model or human clinical data exists for this species.
Total Phenolics
8.75 ± 0.54 mg GAE/g dry weight (Chihuahua study); 9.38 mg GAE/g dry extract (Nowacka et al. 2014) — moderate levels, second-highest among species tested in both studies.
In vitro — fruiting bodyDPPH Antioxidant Activity
0.0368 ± 0.0004 mmol TE/g DW — second-ranked of four species in the Chihuahua study.
In vitro — fruiting bodyABTS Antioxidant
0.0293 ± 0.0034 mmol TE/g DW. ABTS is the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation assay, a standard measure of free radical scavenging capacity.
In vitro — fruiting bodyAntimicrobial Activity
Ethanol extracts showed inhibitory activity against Streptococcus agalactiae and other tested pathogens. Ethanol extracts outperformed methanol extracts. Staphylococcus aureus was most resistant.
In vitro — disc diffusionCatecholase (Polyphenol Oxidase)
A purified catecholase has been characterized: Km for catechol 0.25 mM; optimum pH 7.0; optimum temperature 30°C. Retains activity in organic media — of potential biotechnological interest (Kolcuoğlu et al. 2018).
In vitro — enzyme characterizationIAA and Cytokinins (Culture)
Six isolates of L. laccata produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) — a plant growth hormone — and cytokinins in culture. These phytohormones likely promote lateral root formation in host trees during ECM establishment.
In vitro — cultureProtein (Fruiting Body)
10.14 ± 0.4% dry weight (Indian Himalayan study); 23.30% (Nepal study). Inter-study variability is common in wild fungi and reflects substrate, geographic origin, developmental stage, and analytical method.
Nutritional analysisVolatile Profile
The compound(s) responsible for the rubber-like or subraphanoid odor remain unidentified — no GC-MS study targeting L. laccata volatiles has been published. This is an open research question amenable to SPME-GC-MS analysis.
Not yet characterizedNo terpenoids, alkaloids, or β-glucan content data have been published specifically for L. laccata. All chemistry data to date derives from fruiting bodies — no published analysis of mycelial chemical composition exists. Given the cryptic species problem described above, some historical chemistry studies attributed to "L. laccata" may have used misidentified material.
Is the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Safe to Eat?
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is listed as edible in all major European and North American field guides. It contains no documented alkaloids, amatoxins, ibotenic acid, muscimol, muscarine, or other recognized mycotoxins. There are no reported poisoning cases in the literature. That said, two important qualifications apply.
Preparation requirements: L. laccata must be cooked before consumption — raw consumption is not documented as safe for any Laccaria species. The stems are notably tough and fibrous; only caps are generally recommended for cooking. Flavor is mild and unremarkable; the species is not highly prized culinarily and is typically gathered as a supplement to a forage rather than as a primary target.
The most significant documented safety issue with L. laccata is arsenic bioaccumulation from contaminated soils. A 2015 study (Li et al., Biol Trace Elem Res) measured arsenic in L. laccata caps from SW China at 14.1–143 mg/kg dry weight. A single meal of 300 g fresh weight from this region yielded arsenic exposure of 0.42–4.3 mg — exceeding the FAO/WHO recommended limit for inorganic arsenic intake. This is highly soil-dependent, not a fixed species property. L. laccata from uncontaminated forest soils in typical European or North American settings is likely safe for occasional consumption. Sites near former industrial activity, mining areas, arsenical pesticide use, or naturally arsenic-elevated geology present genuine risk. Site selection matters significantly.
The closely related Laccaria amethystina is a more pronounced arsenic accumulator in European populations — if foraging Laccaria species, arsenic-elevated sites apply especially to the Amethyst Deceiver. No medication interactions or contraindications are documented for L. laccata in the peer-reviewed literature.
What Makes the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Remarkable?
The Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) is scientifically significant well beyond its modest appearance and culinary reputation. Several aspects of its biology are genuinely unusual and represent active frontiers in mycological research.
The Type Species Without a Reference Sequence — For 150 Years
Perhaps the most remarkable fact: L. laccata served as the type species anchoring the identity of an entire genus for over 150 years without a verified DNA reference sequence. The 2025 paper by Dovana et al. that finally resolved this revealed that approximately 30 distinct biological taxa had been labeled "L. laccata" in GenBank — meaning a significant portion of the ecological, chemical, and forestry research attributed to this species in published literature may include data from multiple distinct organisms. For a species used in commercial forestry inoculation and studied as an ECM model, this taxonomic uncertainty is extraordinary.
Pioneer Colonizer on Volcanic Substrate
L. laccata is among the very first ECM fungi documented colonizing near-bare volcanic mineral substrate on Mt. Fuji, working alongside pioneer Salix shrubs. Unlike most ectomycorrhizal fungi — which are generally considered late-successional organisms requiring established soil — the Deceiver tolerates minimal soil development and functions as a facilitator of early forest establishment. Its exceptional host breadth (from dwarf arctic willows to subtropical pines) enables this ecological flexibility.
Rapid Genet Turnover — Unusual for an ECM Species
Most ectomycorrhizal fungi are considered long-lived below ground — individual genets (genetically distinct individuals) can persist for decades. Population genetics studies on Mt. Fuji found that L. laccata genets instead show unusually high annual replacement: most disappeared within months of sporocarp formation, replaced by numerous offspring genets from spore dispersal sharing alleles with the previous year's dominant. Nine months after sporocarp formation, the dominant sporocarp-producing genet was undetectable in 60% of sampled plots. This rapid sexual strategy may underlie its success as a pioneer.
Biocontrol of Root Pathogens
In agar plate assays, L. laccata mycelium inhibited growth of nearly half of 48 tested root pathogenic fungi. Cell-free culture filtrates showed the same inhibitory activity against Phytophthora cinnamomi. In Douglas fir seedlings, inoculation with L. laccata suppressed Fusarium oxysporum — a significant root pathogen in forest nurseries. This biocontrol capacity adds a practical dimension to its value as a nursery inoculant beyond the direct mycorrhizal benefit.
LCO Signaling — A Deep Evolutionary Discovery
Research on Laccaria bicolor (directly relevant to understanding L. laccata) revealed that ectomycorrhizal fungi produce lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs) — the same class of signaling molecules (Nod factors) used by nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria to trigger root nodulation in legumes. These LCOs activate what researchers call the common symbiosis pathway in Populus roots. This discovery unified three previously separate biological phenomena — legume-Rhizobium nodulation, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis — under a shared molecular framework, fundamentally revising our understanding of plant-microbe co-evolution. The implication: the molecular language of forest partnership stretches back to before plants diverged from their nitrogen-fixing bacterial allies.
Drought Sensitivity — An Ecological Paradox
Despite being a versatile ecological pioneer, the Deceiver is among the most drought-sensitive ECM fungi tested in pure culture — unable to grow at water potentials below −1 MPa, while species like Cenococcum geophilum tolerate −3 MPa. Its success as a colonizer of disturbed and volcanic sites likely depends on the moist microhabitats within those environments, even when the broader landscape appears harsh. This apparent paradox remains an unresolved aspect of its ecology.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Deceiver (Laccaria laccata)
Why is Laccaria laccata called "The Deceiver"?
The name comes from its extreme color variability. The same mushroom can appear rich orange-brown when the cap is wet and nearly white or pale buff after it dries out. Because color shifts so dramatically with moisture — and because cap shape also flattens and deforms with age — the species appears to be multiple different mushrooms at different times or in different weather. This "deceiving" appearance made early naturalists and foragers lose confidence in identifications made on a previous day, giving rise to the common name.
Can I grow Laccaria laccata at home using a liquid culture?
Not in the conventional indoor mushroom cultivation sense. The Deceiver cannot fruit on grain, straw, sawdust, or any standard substrate because it lacks the enzymes to digest plant material for nutrition. Its genome (inferred from the closely related Laccaria bicolor) confirms the absence of plant cell-wall-degrading enzymes. What a liquid culture can realistically be used for is tree seedling inoculation — inoculating the roots of compatible host trees (Douglas fir, birch, oak, pine, spruce, and others) to establish the mycorrhizal partnership. This is the well-documented forestry application backed by over 35 years of peer-reviewed research.
Is Laccaria laccata dangerous to eat?
Under normal conditions in uncontaminated woodland soils, the Deceiver is considered safe for occasional consumption when cooked. It contains no recognized mycotoxins and has no reported poisoning cases. The main documented safety concern is arsenic bioaccumulation in contaminated soils — particularly in regions with industrial history, mining, arsenical pesticide use, or naturally elevated arsenic geology. A 2015 study measured arsenic at levels exceeding FAO/WHO limits in fruiting bodies from SW China. Caps only (stems are too tough), thorough cooking, and avoiding contaminated sites are the practical guidance. Positive identification is essential — the most dangerous confusion species is Galerina marginata, which contains deadly amatoxins.
What is the 2025 Laccaria laccata taxonomy paper about?
A 2025 paper by Dovana et al. (Journal of Fungi 11(8):575) resolved a 150-year-old gap: Laccaria laccata, despite being the type species of its entire genus, had never had a formally designated reference specimen with molecular data. The paper designated a lectotype (an 18th-century illustration by Schaeffer) and an epitype (a 1964 Singer specimen from Sweden), then sequenced the epitype to provide verified GenBank reference sequences for the species. The practical impact: a BLAST search of sequences labeled "L. laccata" in public databases before this study recovered approximately 30 distinct biological taxa — meaning decades of published research attributed to this species may have involved multiple different organisms.
What host trees can Laccaria laccata form partnerships with?
The Deceiver has an unusually broad host range for an ectomycorrhizal fungus. Confirmed compatible hosts from peer-reviewed studies include Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Norway spruce (Picea abies), European larch (Larix decidua), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), black spruce (Picea mariana), silver birch (Betula pendula), poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), and chestnut (Castanea spp.), among others. This span across conifers and broadleaves — gymnosperms and angiosperms — is one of the traits that makes L. laccata particularly valuable as a forestry inoculant.
How is Laccaria laccata distinguished from Galerina marginata?
Galerina marginata (Funeral Bell) is the most dangerous lookalike and contains deadly amatoxins — the same toxins found in the Death Cap. Key distinguishing features of the Deceiver: white spore print (Galerina has rusty-brown); no ring on the stem (Galerina has a membranous ring); grows from soil, not from or adjacent to wood (Galerina typically grows from wood or buried wood); gills are pink to pink-brown (Galerina's are rusty-brown). Never consume any small brown mushroom without confirming a white spore print, absence of a stem ring, and a soil rather than wood substrate.
Also available as a culture plate from Out-Grow.
Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) Culture Plate