Hygrophorus agathosmus Fries
Epicr. Syst. Myc., p. 325. 1838.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 3.0-7.0 cm broad, convex, expanding to plano-convex, the disc sometimes subumbonate to slightly depressed; margin at first incurved, then decurved; surface viscid when moist, glabrous, light-grey, darker at the disc; context white, unchanging, soft, up to 1.0 cm thick at the disc, rapidly thinning towards the margin; odor and taste almond-like.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnate to subdecurrent, subdistant, white, ash-grey in age; waxy, relatively thin; lamellulae in 3-4 series.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4.0-7.0 cm long, 1.0-2.0 cm thick, equal to narrowed at the base, stuffed in age; surface moist, not viscid, white, finely flocculose or pruinose at apex, nearly glabrous to innately-striate below; partial veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 7.5-9.5 x 4.0-5.5 µm, smooth, thin-walled, elliptical in face-view, inequilateral in profile, hilar appendage conspicuous, inamyloid; spores white in deposit.

• Habitat

  Scattered or in small groups under conifers, e.g. Pines (Pinus spp), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Spruce (Picea spp.); coastal forests and and lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter; occasional.

• Edibility

  Edible according to the literature, but mediocre.

• Comments

  An almond-like odor and viscid, greyish cap are hallmarks of Hygrophorus agathosmus. The odor while pleasing, is not unique, thus it should be compared with other almond-scented waxy caps. These include Hygrophorus odoratus, a small species reported from Idaho under conifers. It also has viscid, grey cap, but the gills are strongly, not subdecurrent. Hygrophorus bakerensis is a large, robust species, the cap up to 12 cm broad, with an ochre-tinged, brownish cap; Hygrophorus pacificus has a brown to tawny-brown, often wavy-margined cap and occurs under Spruce (Picea spp).

• References

  Bird, C.J. & Grund, D.W. (1979). Nova Scotian Species of Hygrophorus. The Nova Scotia Museum: Nova Scotia. 131 p.
  Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1963). North American Species of Hygrophorus. University of Tennessee Press: Knoxville, TN. 416 p.
  Largent, D.L. (1985). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 5. Hygrophoraceae. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 208 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Hygrophorus agathosmus (CP)
  • Page perso de JJ.Wuilbaut: Hygrophorus agathosmus (CP)
  • Fungi of Saskatchewan: Hygrophorus agathosmus (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Hygrophorus agathosmus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 128 (D & P)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (v. 3): sp. 105 (D, I, & CP)
  • Largent (1985): p. 124 (D)
  • Lincoff: p. 654 (D), pl. 360 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 60 (D), p. 61 (CP)
  • Miller: sp. 41 (D)
  • Smith (1975): sp. 64 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)