Left Photo: Laccaria amethystea - Purple Laccaria Right Photo: Laccaria ochropurpurea
The Purple Laccaria is reported as common and widespread. However, I haven't seen it that often. I was delighted therefore, when I found this specimen in Grundy Provincial Park in Ontario. The brilliant purple of the cap and gills are distinctive but sometimes it is much duller or fades in age. In my experience L. ochropurpurea is even less common than L amethystea.