Tricholomopsis rutilans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plums and Custard
Trichol rutilans02 Alberto Vázquez.JPG
T. rutilans
Pine woods, Galicia - Alberto Vázquez
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Tricholomataceae
Genus:
Tricholomopsis
Species:
T. rutilans
Binomial name
Tricholomopsis rutilans
(Schaeff. : Fr.) Sing.

Tricholomopsis rutilans, known by the unusual but apt common name of Plums and Custard or, less commonly Red-haired agaric, is a species of gilled mushroom found across Europe and North America.

Description[]

The species growing in Belgium

A striking and easily recognised fungus, Plums and Custard takes its common name from its plum-red scaled cap and crowded custard yellow gills. The flesh is cream-coloured and spore print creamy white. The base colour of the cap under the purplish scales is yellow.[1] The cap is convex and 3–12 cm (1.2–4.7 in) across.[2] The stipe (stem) is cylindrical and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tall and 1–2.5 cm wide[2] with a red scaly base developing to a yellow colour towards the cap. It has no ring or volva.

Distribution and habitat[]

Tricholomopsis rutilans can be found growing on tree stumps and logs (especially those of spruce) in coniferous woodlands throughout the northern hemisphere, in places as diverse as Ireland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and North-West Russia, in late summer and autumn (June until November). It has also been found, probably accidentally introduced, in Australia and Costa Rica on introduced pine trees.

Edibility[]

Tricholomopsis rutilans
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
gills on hymenium
cap is convex
hymenium is adnate
stipe is bare
spore print is cream
ecology is saprotrophic
edibility: edible, but unpalatable

Many older texts list T. rutilans as apparently able to be eaten after boiling, though not recommended. A couple of more recent books list it as of poor quality, reportedly due to a taste of rotting wood.[3][1]

Similar species[]

A related species, Tricholomopsis decora, is also found in conifer woods but is golden in colour, much less common and found at higher altitudes. Megacollybia fallax is similar but with a gray-brown cap.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
  2. ^ a b c Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.
  3. ^ Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.

Further reading[]

  • Breitenbach J & Kränzlin F (1991). Fungi of Switzerland 3: Boletes & Agarics, 1st Part. ISBN 978-3-85604-230-1.
  • Fuhrer B. (2005) A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Bloomings Books. ISBN 1-876473-51-7
  • Brian Spooner (1996). Mushrooms and Toadstools. Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-220007-3.

External links[]

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