Pluteus leoninus
Journ. Mycol. 8(3): 117. 1902.
Common Name: none
Synonym: Pluteus flavofuligineus G. F. Atk.
Cap 3.0-6.0 cm broad, convex, expanding to plano-convex, often with a low umbo; margin decurved, inconspicuously striate; surface velvety-tomentose at the disc, becoming matted tomentose near the margin, sometimes appearing glabrous overall with age and weathering; color when young: medium-brown, tinted ochre, fading to pale yellowish-brown, the disc usually remaining darker; context white, unchanging, soft, thin, except up to 5.0 mm thick at the disc; odor and taste mild.
Gills, free, close, relatively broad, up to 6 mm wide, pallid, sometimes yellowish near the margin, becoming pinkish from maturing spores; lamellulae up to 3-seried.
Stipe 4-8 cm long, 3-6 mm thick, straight, stuffed at maturity, more or less equal or tapering to a slightly enlarged base; surface pallid to tinged pinkish, appressed fibrillose-striate, sometimes twisted-striate; context white, discoloring occasionally to pale pinkish-buff when cut; partial veil absent.
Spores 6.5-7.5 x 5.0-6.0 µm, ovoid to ovoid-oblong, smooth, contents granular, hilar appendage inconspicuous; spore print pale pinkish-brown.
Solitary to scattered on rotting hardwood logs, e.g. Tanbark oak (Lithocarpus densiflora), and Liveoak (Quercus agrifolia); fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.
Unknown.
This attractive Pluteus is recognized by a velvety-textured, yellowish-brown cap, free pinkish gills, and pallid stipe. It fruits sporadically, rare in some years, but can be fairly common in warm, wet years. Pluteus lutescens is similar but is distinguished by a minutely granular cap (cellular type cuticle) and more yellowish stipe.
Recent molecular data shows that Pluteus flavofuligeneus is con-specific with P. leoninus, an older European name.
Atkinson, G.F. (1902). Preliminary Notes on Some New Species of Fungi. J. Mycol. 8(3): 110-119. (Protologue for P. flavofuligineus)
Arora, D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. & Ikeda, D. (2019). A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California's National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p. (PDF)
Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p. (PDF)
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