A few years ago, we started collecting purple Inocybe species from different habitats. So far, three collections (gathered near Sárvár, Nagymizdó, and Zalakaros) have undergone molecular analysis. We are slowly getting closer to the point where we can finally emerge from the „purple mist” (apologies 😃 ), as we previously thought all purple Inocybe specimens were Inocybe lilacina… Now we just need to carefully observe the differences. 🙂 According to genetic analysis, these three collections belong to two species: Inocybe aphroditeana and Inocybe tyrii.

Interesting that the two similar vegetation types (Fagus/Carpinus) produced two different species, while the third (Betula) matched the sample collected from one of the Carpinus habitats.

A huge thank you to Dr. Bálint Dima for his work, the analysis, and the follow-up! Thanks to the taxonomic clarifications, these two species have become the first recorded occurrences in the country based on our findings, but of course, this just means they’ve been properly identified now, not that they’re rare.