Amethyst laccaria mushrooms, Seabeck, Washington, United States Oct 15, 2025

Amethyst laccaria mushrooms, Seabeck, Washington, United States

Did you know that approximately 14,000 species of mushrooms have been described? One of them is the amethyst laccaria, pictured here. Also known as the amethyst deceiver, its bright purple colour is dazzling when young, but it fades with age and weathering, making it tricky to identify. Despite its delicate, ever-changing appearance, this jewel-toned fungus is edible and plays a vital role in the ecosystem.

© Danita Delimont/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Oct 15, 2023European hedgehog
Oct 15, 2024Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 15, 2024The Eiskapelle, Bavaria, Germany
Jun 3, 2024Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
Mar 17, 2024St. Finians Bay, County Kerry, Ireland
Apr 5, 2026Lake Gentau in the French Pyrenees
Sep 4, 2024Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
Oct 28, 2024Pumpkin field, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Dec 1, 2025Natural arch carved in an iceberg, Antarctica
Jan 21, 2024Eurasian red squirrel
Sep 7, 2024Annas hummingbird
Jul 4, 2024Zahara de la Sierra, Andalusia, Spain
Jan 4, 2026Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska, United States
Oct 20, 2024Three-toed sloth in Costa Rica
Jun 9, 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
Nov 21, 2025Harbour seals
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettle jellyfish
Oct 5, 2024Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
Apr 20, 2024Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park
Oct 14, 2025Village of Oia, Santorini, Greece
Dec 23, 2024Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Jul 11, 2024Gangi, Sicily, Italy
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
Jul 14, 2024La Geria wine region, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Dec 10, 2025Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Mar 10, 2026Bláhver, Hveravellir, Iceland
Jan 7, 2024Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
Jul 21, 2025Staghorn coral in shallow ocean
Feb 27, 2024Polar bear cubs