Tricholomopsis rutilans
Schweiz. Zeitschr. Pilzk. 17: 56. 1936.
Photo: Specimen shown is growing from buried wood.
Common Name: none
Synonym: Tricholoma rutilans (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
Cap 3-12 cm broad, convex to plane, ground color yellow overlaid with dark red to purplish-red fibrils, dry, margin smooth, entire.
Gills adnate to notched, close, yellow to pale yellow.
Stipe 2.5-10 cm long, 1-2.5 cm broad, typically round above, flattened below; smooth, dry, yellow with reddish to purplish-red fibrils; veil absent.
Spores 5-7 X 3-5 µm, elliptical, smooth. Spore print white.
Solitary to clustered on conifer stumps and logs, occasionally on wood chips; from late fall to mid-winter.
Edible, but mediocre.
With its large stature, reddish-purple cap and contrasting yellow gills, Tricholomopsis rutilans is one of our most handsome mushrooms. It fruits in conifer woods, but is infrequent in some years making finds all the more noteworthy. Despite its inviting appearance, Tricholomopsis rutilans has no redeeming culinary value.
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