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:

Dec 23, 2024Two red-crowned cranes in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Nov 20, 2024Pont de pierre, Bordeaux, France
Nov 30, 2023The Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK
Oct 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Oct 1, 2023Lake Bled, Slovenia
Nov 20, 2025Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil
Aug 2, 2024Saint-François, Guadeloupe, Caribbean
May 7, 2025Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Feb 16, 2024Pyrrhuloxia bird
Sep 8, 2023The Circus, Bath, Somerset, England
Dec 9, 2023Guanacos, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Dec 31, 2024Fireworks over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada
Jun 12, 2025Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
Nov 17, 2025Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Jan 27, 2025Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
May 15, 2025Palace of Westminster, London, England
Oct 10, 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado, USA
Aug 22, 2025Rolling hills of the Palouse, Washington, United States
Jan 20, 2024Macaroni penguins
Oct 12, 2025Saranac Lake, New York
Sep 21, 2023Inside the Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo, Norway
Jun 14, 2024Peggys Cove Lighthouse, Canada
Apr 13, 2024Apple trees in spring, Germany
Sep 12, 2025Spinner dolphin pod
Sep 29, 2025Rainbow houses, Netherlands
Mar 11, 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Dec 26, 2023Dedham, Colchester, England
Feb 23, 2026Great white egret, Upper Bavaria, Germany
Feb 26, 2026Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, Arizona, United States