Rosy bonnet Mycena rosea
poisonousAlso poisonous; stronger smell of radish.
Identification in 5 steps
The lilac bonnet is a violet bonnet with a distinct smell of radish. It is poisonous and is often confused with the edible amethyst deceiver.
SeasonApril to November
Spore printwhite
FamilyMycenaceae
- Cap. The cap is 2 to 6 cm wide, violet to pink, radially ribbed.
- Underside. The gills are violet to whitish.
- Stem, ring and volva. The stem is violet and smooth, with no ring and no volva.
- Smell and taste. It smells distinctly of radish. Never taste it.
- Flesh and colour change. The flesh is violet and does not change colour.
Lookalikes
Lilac bonnet with a pink to violet cap; poisonous and easily mistaken for the edible amethyst deceiver.
Clustered bonnet Mycena inclinata
inedibleGrows in clusters, inedible.
Amethyst deceiver Laccaria amethystina
edible
Edible; funnel-shaped, glossy, no smell of radish.
View on the mapSide by side
| Lilac bonnet | Rosy bonnet | Clustered bonnet | Amethyst deceiver | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | violet, 2 to 6 cm, ribbed | pink | brown olive | amethyst-violet, funnel-shaped |
| Underside | violet-tinged gills | whitish gills | brown gills | violet-tinged gills |
| Stem | violet, smooth | slender | clustered | thin, glossy |
| Flesh | thin-fleshed, smell of radish | thin-fleshed | tough | fragile, odourless |
| Edibility | Poisonous | poisonous | inedible | edible |
Habitat & Season
Humus-rich woodland soils. Lowlands up to mountain woods.
Host trees
Deciduous and coniferous woods, in the litter under trees.
Season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
possible good main season
Long season in the woods.
Mushroom regions with a daily forecast
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
Safety
Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect someone has eaten it, call the emergency number and the poison centre immediately.
Advice for your country
Ireland
Poison centre:
National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166
Emergency: 112 · 999
Germany
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Austria
Poison centre:
Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Conservation and collecting rules
Not specially protected.
Salzburg: Collecting poisonous mushrooms is banned, except single specimens for identification.
Poisoning
ToxinMuscarine.
SyndromeMuscarine syndrome.
SymptomsSalivation, sweating, nausea, abdominal cramps.
Onset15 to 30 minutes up to a few hours.
What to do now: This is an emergency, even if there are no symptoms yet. Go to a hospital immediately or call 999 / 112 and the poison centre (NHS 111, England). Do not wait to see whether symptoms appear, and do not be misled by an apparent improvement. Do not induce vomiting. Keep leftover mushrooms, cleaning scraps and vomit, and tell everyone who shared the meal.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lilac bonnet edible?
No, it is poisonous.
What is the difference from the amethyst deceiver?
The bonnet has a radially ribbed cap and smells of radish; the amethyst deceiver is funnel-shaped.
What should I do if it has been eaten?
Call the emergency number and the poison centre.
Related species
- Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasciculare
- Fly agaric Amanita muscaria
- Devil's bolete Rubroboletus satanas
- Yellow-stainer Agaricus xanthodermus
- The sickener Russula emetica
- Spotted tricholoma Tricholoma pardinum
Sources
Photo credits
- Photo: Bernhard Krause · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Amethyst deceiver: Photo: Achim Lammerts (Syntaxys) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.