Dark Purple Pinkgill
Entoloma nigroviolaceum
The Dark Purple Pinkgill is a distinctive mushroom species characterized by its deep violet-purple cap and pink spore-bearing gills that develop as the fungus matures. This saprobic fungus plays a crucial ecological role in forest ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Marco Floriani, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Marco Floriani
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Entolomataceae
Genus
Entoloma
Dark Purple Pinkgill belongs to the family Entolomataceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
The Dark Purple Pinkgill is a distinctive mushroom species characterized by its deep violet-purple cap and pink spore-bearing gills that develop as the fungus matures. This saprobic fungus plays a crucial ecological role in forest ecosystems by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil. Its striking coloration and relatively large fruiting body make it one of the more recognizable members of the Entoloma genus.
The Dark Purple Pinkgill faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited European range. Climate change and pollution are additional stressors affecting the specific soil conditions and mycorrhizal relationships this rare fungus requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Dark Purple Pinkgill typically fruits in mature deciduous and mixed forests with rich, well-drained soils and abundant leaf litter. The species shows a preference for areas with consistent moisture levels and partial shade, often appearing near the base of large trees or in forest clearings with decomposing woody debris.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Dark Purple Pinkgill faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited European range. Climate change and pollution are additional stressors affecting the specific soil conditions and mycorrhizal relationships this rare fungus requires for survival.
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and land conversion
Climate change altering soil conditions
Disruption of mycorrhizal host relationships
Pollution affecting soil chemistry
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Dark Purple Pinkgill (Entoloma nigroviolaceum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dark-purple-pinkgill