Vol 11 (4)

THE GENUS TRICHOLOMA

in Britain
Geoffrey Kibby*

he genus Tricholoma is one of the classic below are to that edition. The treatment here is

T genera but it was not always as narrowly

defined as it is now. For Fries, who placed
it as a subgenus of Agaricus (which covered most
of the gilled fungi), it also included, among
others, the genera we now know as Melanoleuca,
Leucopaxillus, Lyophyllum and parts of
Rhodocybe. Even as recently as the 1960 British
Checklist it still incorporated Porpoloma,
Dermoloma and Calocybe. Gradually over the
last 40 years or so Tricholoma has been pared
down to the genus as we know it today. Modern
phylogenetic studies involving the use of molecu-
lar techniques to examine the DNA confirm that
the genus forms a relatively coherent, unified
group. Its closest relatives are probably Clitocybe
and Lepista, with different gill attachments and
non-mycorrhizal.
There have been four substantial treatments
of Tricholoma in Europe in recent years. In
chronological order these are: Riva (1988) as
Fungi Europaei Vol. 3; Bon (1991) as Flore
Mycologique d’Europe Vol. 2; Noordeloos &
Christensen (1999) in Flora Agaricina
Neerlandica Vol. 4. and Christensen &
Heilmann-Clausen (2008) in Funga Nordica.
Riva’s work was reissued in a substantially
revised 2nd Edition (2003) and all references
something of a compromise between all of the
above. A number of other works are cited for
recommended illustrations – see p. 125.
The new Checklist (Legon & Henrici, 2005)
includes 42 species plus some varieties. This
compares with 60 species in Funga Nordica
(Knudsen & Vesterholt Eds., 2008), 63 European
species in Riva (2003) and 88 European species in
Bon (1991). Following the treatments of Riva
and of Funga Nordica we can expect more species
to be distinguished here as our knowledge
improves and collections are studied more inten-
sively.
The genus is usually fairly easily recognised in
the field by a combination of macroscopic
features. They have fleshy, usually robust,
fibrous fruitbodies whose caps may be smooth to
suede-like, innately fibrillose or fibrous-scaly and
when wet may be distinctly tacky or even viscid.
Cap colours range from white to shades of grey,
grey-brown, reddish-brown or orange to bright
yellow or greenish and caps are frequently more
or less umbonate. The lamellae are white or
sometimes shaded with similar colours to the cap
or stem and are usually described as sinuate or
emarginate which means that they suddenly
curve abruptly upwards and then slightly down

Fig. 1. Tricholoma species frequently grow in troops and often in circles. This is part of a circle of what appears
to be T. triste, photographed in Fontainbleau, France, not yet known in Britain. Photograph © Jo Weightman.

*fieldmycol@yahoo.co.uk

doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2010.10.004 113
Vol 11 (4)
as they reach the stem, giving a notched effect
next to the stem. Occasionally they may be
adnate. The stem is usually tough, fibrous, cylin-
dric to tapered or slightly bulbous, smooth to
floccose-scaly or banded and in some species a
distinct ring or cobwebby veil may be present.
Odour and taste may be important, several
species having farinaceous or aromatic odours
and/or a farinaceous-mealy or acrid taste. Figure
1 shows a typical Tricholoma growing in a fairy
ring.
Microscopically, a number of characters are of
use in identification: the size and shape of the
spores (which are always completely smooth and
inamyloid), presence or absence of clamp connec-
tions and of cheilocystidia and the detailed struc-
ture of the cap cuticle.
usually thin-walled (Fig. 2). But in some species
there is another secondary layer interposed
between the two. This layer consists of cells
which are very swollen to almost subglobose with
heavily pigmented and thickened walls. Riva
calls this Josserand’s layer (Fig. 3). These differ-
ences in cuticle structure appear to be very useful
in separating species and species groups.
For many species the exact details of their
hyphal structure in the cuticle is not readily
available and for this reason I have not used it in
the keys.

Spores
Spore size and shape are considered by all Fig. 2. Simple cap cuticle
authors to be very important in species and even
Sectional delimitation. Subglobose, ellipsoid, and
more or less narrow-elongate spores are all
commonly encountered. Because Tricholoma
spores seem to vary in size even more than most
fungi when examined on the gill, it is important,
wherever possible, to use a spore deposit when
making measurements.

Clamp connections
The presence or absence of clamp connections in
the tissues of the pileipellis and at the base of the
basidia is very important. As anyone who has
spent time searching for clamps will tell you, this
can be a thankless task, especially when clamps
are absent. But with practice it does become
easier and may be made easier still by careful
staining of the tissues with Congo red or similar
staining reagents.
Cap cuticle structure
Bon (1991) and Riva (2003) have demon-
strated that the detailed structure of the pileipel-
lis (cap cuticle) will repay closer examination and
all potential new species should be examined in
this respect. In many species the cells of the
epicutis are usually simple, elongate, sometimes
forming a partial palisade while in other species
the cell walls are thickened or have encrusting
pigment. Below these the subcuticular cells may
be swollen to slightly rounded or brick-like and
Fig. 3. More complex cap cuticle with outer, encrust-
ed cells, middle thick-walled cells (Josserand’s layer)
and lower thin-walled cells. After Galli (1999).
The cap surface in Tricholoma varies from
smooth to suede-like, woolly-felty, fibrillose to
various degrees of squamulose up to fully scaly
(Figs 4–9).
Cheilocystidia
Cystidia on the lamellae have not formerly
played much part in species differentiation since
they are mostly small and little differentiated but
the recent description of T. clavocystis from
Switzerland, with abundant, very obvious
pyriform cheilocystidia, would suggest that
perhaps we should be paying more attention in
this regard. Riva illustrates cystidia varying from
simple, slender clavate cells hardly differing from
basidia to fusiform, irregular or oddly bifurcating
cells (Fig. 10).

114
 Vol 11 (4)
Habitats SOME TYPICAL CAP CUTICLE TYPES
All species are thought to be mycorrhizal, usually
with species of trees and shrubs, but some have
also been recorded with Helianthemum and
Dryas. Most Tricholoma species have very
specific host associations so detailed observations
of probable host should be made wherever possi-
ble. A few species appear to grow with several
hosts, often with varietal differences apparent in Fig. 4. Smooth, matt Fig. 5. Concentric scales
these cases e.g. T. saponaceum. Further studies, cuticle of Subgenus of Subgenus Pardinicutis.
especially using molecular techniques might Contexticutis.
settle the question of whether such varieties
deserve specific status.

The keys
The genus Tricholoma will repay closer study
in Britain as there has been no serious review of
our species since Orton’s publications. Scotland
in particular may reveal species so far only
known in Scandinavia, and further south we may Fig. 6. Virgate-fibrillose Fig. 7. Felty-squamulose
cuticle of Section Terrea, cuticle of Section Terrea,
have species described from southern Europe. As
Subsection Virgata Subsection Terrea.
in other – especially mycorrhizal – genera, which
have come under closer scrutiny in recent years,
we suspect that common, but supposedly variable
species, will turn out to be species complexes
which may only be resolved by a combination of
molecular studies, detailed morphological exami-
nation and better field work. This has already
been suggested in Funga Nordica for
Fig. 8. dry, suede-like, Fig. 9. Smooth, viscid
T. sulphureum, T. equestre and T. saponaceum.
squamulose cuticle typi- cuticle typical of Section
The keys that follow are entirely my own cal of Section Imbricata Albobrunnea
attempt to reconcile the various treatments by
other authors combined with my own field experi- species described by Peter Orton (1987, 1999)
ence and interpretations. Only time and compar- which are too often missed or ignored in recent
isons of fresh collections will show whether this works.
treatment is any better than others. What it does The keys are in the traditional dichotomous
provide is an English language key and descrip- format and the essential part of each couplet is in
tions that bring together species from both italics, with additional information in ordinary
central and southern Europe as well as the roman type.
Scandinavian countries and incorporates the

a b c d e
Fig. 10. Examples of Tricholoma cystidia types: a) inflated-globose – T. clavocystis; b) irregular-fusiform – T. triste;
c) clavate – T. portentosum; d) irregular-digitate – T. basirubens; e) inflated-irregular – T. arvernense. After Riva
(1988).

115
 Vol 11 (4)
Key to Subgenera and Sections
The classification in four subgenera derives from Singer (1986) and has been generally followed since.
It has recently received considerable support from ongoing DNA studies.
1. Cap cuticle dry or glabrous, more or less matt
to slightly silky, not fibrillose-virgate,
squamulose or viscid; pigment mainly
intracellular; clamp connections +/- numerous
at least in the hymenium but also visible in
the epicutis;........................................................ 2
1. Cap cuticle +/- obviously fibrillose-virgate,
squamulose or hairy-felty, to dry and roughened,
or if smooth then distinctly viscid; pigment
predominantly in cell membranes; clamps
present or not......................................................4
2. Pileus glabrous, without radial fibres;
pileipellis a simple cutis; clamps abundant;
odour odd, soapy-aromatic; flesh often pinkish
at stipe base...............Subgenus Contexticutis
2. Pileus silky, glabrous or matt like kid leather;
pileipellis sometimes forming a partial
trichoderm; clamps common; odour pungent, of
gas, insecticide or sickly-floral .............................
..............................Subgenus Sericeicutis..... 3
3. Spores > 8 µm long, odour repulsive of coal gas...
.......................................Sect. Inamoena p. 119
3. Spores < 8µm long; odour of insecticide (fly
spray), or sickly-sweet, aromatic..........................
............................................Sect. Lasciva p. 119
4. Clamp connections numerous in the cap cuticle;
fruitbodies large, 15-25 cm; cuticle with well
defined concentric grey-black scales; spores 8–10
µm long .......................Subgenus Pardinicutis
4. Clamps rare or nil in the cap and often totally
absent; cap colours and texture vary ...................
..............................Subgenus Tricholoma..... 5
5. Colours grey, blackish, brownish-grey to
slightly vinaceous-grey (if yellow then with acrid
or acrid-bitter taste). Cuticle virgate-fibrillose,
felty, squamulose, not viscid ..(Sect. Terrea)...6
5. Colours +/- reddish-brown, orange, brown or
bright, yellow +/- greenish or bronze, rarely
white (the bright yellow colours may be masked
by blackish fibrils), taste mild in yellow to
greenish-yellow species ......................................7
116
6. Cap convex, plane-convex, rarely umbonate,
velvety, felty-squamulose to scaly, white, grey
to blackish-grey; taste never acrid-bitter ............
.......................................Subsect. Terrea p. 119
6. Cap bell-shaped, conical, or flattened with
umbo, fibrillose, silky-fibrillose, shiny, rarely
felty, grey, metallic grey or blackish-grey or (in
one species) tawny yellow; taste acrid-bitter.......
.....................................Subsect. Virgata p. 121
7. Basidia with or without clamps; colours
+/- yellow, greenish-yellow, bronze to reddish-
bronze or white; cap cuticle viscid when wet
and more or less innately fibrillose to slightly
squamulose.................Sect. Tricholoma p. 120
7. Basidia without clamps; Cap colours reddish-
brown, orange, rust, dark brown to buff or
cream-brown .......................................................8
8. Fruitbodies very large (15–30 cm), with veil;
lamella edge completely sterile with densely
clustered cheilocystidia ........................................
............................Sect. Megatricholoma p. 123
8. Fruitbodies small to large (5–15 cm), with or
without veil, lamella edge with normal basidia
and cheilocystidia ...............................................9
9. Cap cuticle dry, roughened-squamulose, like
suede or kid leather to almost glabrous ...............
.......................................Sect. Imbricata p. 122
9. Cap cuticle +/- viscid from smooth to broken up
into broad flattened scales or patches..............10
10. Cuticle viscid, smooth; stem smooth or with a
distinct annular zone at the apex.........................
..................................Sect. Albobrunnea p. 122
10. Cuticle +/- viscid but often broken up into broad,
flattened scales or plaques and the stem with an
obvious ring or thick veil at apex .........................
..........................................Sect. Caligata p. 123
 Vol 11 (4)

Subgenera and Sections of Tricholoma and their species

1. Subgenus: Contexticutis
Section: Rigida p.119 Section: Tricholoma p.120
T. saponaceum T. albidum
T. sudum * T. arvernense
T. clavocystis *
2. Subgenus: Sericeicutis T. columbetta
Section: Inamoena p.119 T. equestre
T. bufonium T. frondosae
T. hemisulphureum T. fucatum *
T. inamoenum T. guldeniae
T. sulphureum T. joachimii *
T. luridum
Section: Lasciva p.119 T. portentosum
T. album T. sejunctum
T. lascivum T. umbonatum *
T. stiparophyllum T. viridifucatum
T. sulphurescens T. viridilutescens

3. Subgenus: Pardinicutis p.119 Section: Imbricata p.122

T. filamentosum * T. acerbum
T. pardinum * T. apium
T. imbricatum
4. Subgenus: Tricholoma T. psammopus
Section: Terrea T. roseoacerbum *
Subsection: Terrea p.119 T. vaccinum
T. alboconicum
T. argyraceum Section: Albobrunnea p.122
T. atrosquamosum T. albobrunneum *
T. basirubens T. aurantium
T. bonii * T. batschii
T. cingulatum T. fulvum
T. gausapatum T. pessundatum
T. inocybeoides T. populinum
T. orirubens T. stans
T. scalpturatum T. ustale
T. squarrulosum T. ustaloides
T. terreum
T. triste * Section: Caligata p.123
Subsection: Virgata p.121 T. caligatum *
T. aestuans T. focale
T. bresadolanum * T. matsutake (= T. nauseosum)
T. josserandii * T. robustum
T. sciodellum
T. sciodes Section: Megatricholoma p.123
T. vinaceogriseum T. colossus
T. virgatum

* = not known to occur in Britain

117
Vol 11 (4)
Fig. 11. T. saponaceum with oli-
vaceous-yellow colours overall
and some scaly banding on the
stem. Photograph © Jo
Weightman

Fig. 12. T. saponaceum with grey-

brown colours overall and more
pronounced scaly banding on the
stem. Photograph © Mike & Di
Hall.

Fig. 13. T. stiparophyllum is one

of three very similar white
species but is characterised by
its tendency to stain dull grey-
brown and finally almost black.
Photograph © Mike & Di Hall

118

KEYS TO SPECIES (* = not British)
Subgenus: Contexticutis
Section: Rigida
1. Smell farinaceous-rancid; cap dark grey-brown
with darker centre; gills rather crowded; stem
fibrillose below; under Pinus .............T. sudum*
1. Smell soapy-sweet; cap olive-grey, olive-yellow at
edge, sometimes adpressed fibrillose-scaly; gills
widely spaced; stem smooth to grey scaly below;
in mixed woods ..........................T. saponaceum
Subgenus: Sericeicutis
Section Inamoena
1. All parts bright sulphur yellow; odour repulsive
of coal-gas; in broadleaf (esp. Quercus) and
conifer woods..............................T. sulphureum
1. Cap and/or stem some other colour; odour as
above; habitat various ........................................2
2. Cap and stem dull whitish to cream; gills white
to very pale yellow; usually with Picea or other
conifers........................................T. inamoenum
2. Some part of fruitbody pale to brighter yellow;
growing with Dryas, Salix repens,
Helianthemum, or conifers ................................3
3. Growing with conifers; cap reddish-brown,
vinaceous; gills and stem rather bright yellow....
.........................................................T. bufonium
3. Growing with Helianthemum in Britain, but
also with Dryas or Salix repens in upland sites;
cap pinkish-yellow to reddish-yellow; gills and
stem pale yellow to pinkish-yellow ......................
...........................................T. hemisulphureum
Section: Lasciva
1. Cap white to cream, strongly yellowing
when bruised..........................T. sulphurescens
1. Cap white to cream or buff, not yellowing
when bruised (often turning grey-black) ...........2
2. Cap cream then pale greyish-buff, milky coffee
when old; smell rancid, farinaceous when cut to
strongly fruity-nauseous; spore Qav >1.6;
mostly under Fagus, sometimes Quercus ............
..........................................................T. lascivum
2. Cap paler, white to cream, bruising grey-black;
spore Qav <1.6 mostly with Betula or
Quercus ...............................................................3
3. Always (?) with Betula; cap white or cream,
margin often distinctly furrowed-ribbed; gills
119
Vol 11 (4)
crowded to medium spaced; fruitbody bruises
slowly grey-black-brown (2-3 hrs); odour
nauseating-rancid (fly spray) ...............................
..............................................T. stiparophyllum
3. Always (?) with Quercus; cap white to yellowish-
cream, not furrowed-ribbed at margin; gills
medium spaced to distant; fruitbody not
bruising grey-black; odour aromatic-sweet,
honey-like .............................................T. album
Subgenus: Pardinicutis
1. Cap with broad, concentric dark grey scales
on a whitish background; stem strongly clavate,
white with a few scattered grey scales at base;
growing with Abies or Fagus on warm
calcareous soils ............................T. pardinum*
1. Cap radially fibrillose, breaking up into broad,
concentric grey-buff scales, hardly contrasting
with background; stem cylindric to weakly
clavate, whitish with innate grey fibrils; growing
with Quercus on warm calcareous or clay soils ...
...............................................T. filamentosum*
Subgenus: Tricholoma
Section: Terrea
Subsection: Terrea
1. Spores average < 6 µm long; flesh and gills
slowly age yellowish; ..........................................2
1. Spore average > 6 µm long; flesh and gills
not yellowing but may stain reddish or even
bluish with age or bruising;................................6
2. Stem with a distinct woolly ring-zone; cap with a
low umbo, tomentose-scaly, pale grey to grey-
brown; growing with Salix ........T. cingulatum
2. Stem smooth to scaly or with just a fine ring-
zone; with different hosts....................................3
3. Cap almost pure white with pale grey centre,
fibrillose-felty; gills white; stem white with fine
fibrils or squamules; in mixed woods, mainly
conifers; spores 5.5–6(7) x 4.5–5 µm.....T. bonii*
[see also Note on T. leucoterreum at end]
3. Cap whitish but soon darker grey or entirely
grey, grey-brown, blackish .................................4
4. Cap mostly convex to plane or weakly umbonate,
distinctly scaly, pale grey to almost black; gills
often ageing yellowish; stem white to pale
greyish, smooth or rarely with faint cobweb-like
ring-zone when very young; spores ellipsoid, Qav
< 1.55 under broadleaf trees...T. scalpturatum
Vol 11 (4)
4. Cap usually conical, bell-shaped or umbonate,
distinctly scaly or felty; spores oblong to
subcylindrical, Qav > 1.6 ....................................5
5. Veil absent or extremely fine in very young
fruitbodies; cap 2-4.5 (–6) cm whitish-grey to
pale grey-brown at centre, very conical-
umbonate, felty-tomentose; stem white; spores
4.5–6.5 (–7) x (2–)2.5–4 µm, ellipsoid-oblong;
with Populus or Betula .............T. alboconicum
5. Veil strongly developed, forming a cobwebby
zone at stem apex and cap margin; cap 4-8 cm,
broadly convex-umbonate, felty-tomentose,
becoming scaly at centre; stem whitish to pale
grey-brown; spores 4-6 (–7) x 2–3.5 µm,
ellipsoid-oblong; with Betula, Tilia, Populus
and Picea ....................................T. argyraceum
6. Stem white, with a dense cover of blackish
squamules; cap with dense, tomentose-scaly
to recurved blackish scales; gills greyish-white
with black dotted edges; odour farinaceous to
peppery-aromatic; spores 6-8(-10.5) x (3-)4–5.5
(-6.5); under Fagus on calcareous soils ................
................................................T. squarrulosum
( = T. atrosquamosum in part, ss. UK)
6. Stem white, smooth or with only scattered small
blackish squamules; base frequently turning
blue-green after several hours and/or also
magenta pink; spores smaller on average .........7
7. Stem whitish with scattered grey fibrils, strongly
magenta-pink in lower half over time; odour
farinaceous to sweet aromatic or peppery; spores
6.5–8 x 4.5–5 (6) µm; under Fagus and Quercus
on warm, calcareous soils ............T. basirubens
( = T. atrosquamosum in part, ss. UK?)
7. Stem white or with a few fine, scattered blackish
scales, not staining magenta-pink ......................8
8. Mycelium yellow; cap felty-scaly but scales not
recurved; gills often reddening with age; stem
white with blue-green spots or red-pink stains at
base; smell sweet, honey-like, but when cut
strong, farinaceous; spores 4–6.5 x 3–4.2 µm;
with broadleaf trees on calcareous soils...............
.........................................................T. orirubens
8. Mycelium white; gills not reddening; odour of
pepper, aromatic or farinaceous; spores larger
4.5–9 x 3–6 µm ....................................................9
120
9. Cap with distinct, black, upright and recurved
scales; stem whitish with a few blackish
squamules scattered over upper half, base
sometimes with blue-green spots; odour of
pepper; spores 4.5–6.5(-7) x 3–4.5µm; under
Picea, Pinus, northern, montane species .............
.............................................T. atrosquamosum
9. Cap surface woolly-plush or felted ...................10
10. Stem pale grey with scattered dark grey scales;
cap densely felty-scaly, grey-black overall, with
distinctly white woolly marginal zone; gills pale
grey sometimes with black punctate edges;
under conifers; spores (5.5)6.5–9(10) x
(3)3.5–5(5.5) µm ....................................T. triste*
10. Stem white, without darker scales....................11
11. Stem usually with fugacious annular veil-zone;
cap surface woolly-plush; gills distinctly greyish,
greyish-glaucous; with clamps in the
hymenium; under pines; widely distributed
but not in Fennoscandia ...........T. gausapatum
11. Stem rarely with annular veil zone when mature;
cap densely felty-squamulose; gills white with a
flush of grey when mature; under Pinus, more
rarely Fagus, widespread..................T. terreum
Subsection: Virgata
1. Pileus, lamellae and stipe with golden yellow
tones, pileus fibrillose, darker olive-brown at
centre; spores 6–7(-8) x 4–5 µm .......T. aestuans
1. Pileus, lamellae and stipe without yellow tones,
usually shades of grey, grey-brown etc ..............2
2. Clay-pink tints soon developing either on gills
or in the stem flesh when cut or on the cap .........3
2. Clay-pink tints not developing............................5
3. Under Fagus; innately fibrillose but silky-shiny,
with acute umbo, dark grey, grey-violaceous,
gills medium-spaced to distant, pinkish-white to
pale grey-white, usually with black-dotted
margins................................................T. sciodes
3. Under Pinus or Betula ........................................4
4. Basidia 4-spored; cap with vinaceous-grey tints,
umbo paler, conical, tomentose-felty; gills pale
vinaceous-buff or clay-buff, edges vinaceous-
grey spotted, with Pinus .....T. vinaceogriseum
4. Basidia predominantly 2-spored; cap acutely
umbonate, smoke-grey, lead-grey or vinaceous-

grey, radially fibrillose-scaly to innately
fibrillose; gills white then pale cream to clay-
pink or fawn near cap margin, edges black scaly-
spotted; stem whitish to vinaceous-buff or
creamy grey at base, deep clay-pink when old or
bruised; odour nil; taste slightly astringent;
under Betula, possibly Pinus .......T. sciodellum
5. Growing with Quercus on calcareous soils;
cap pale grey-brown with minute blackish
scales; stem white with tiny black squamules;
odour earthy-herbaceous .....T. bresadolanum*
5. Under Picea, Pinus or Betula .............................6
6. Odour of bugs or herbage; cap grey, metallic-
grey, innately fibrous, shiny to slightly felty;
stem white, smooth; growing with Pinus
sylvestris on acid soils, sub-montane ...................
....................................................T. josserandii*
6. Odour nil; gills grey-white, medium-spaced to
crowded, without or with only partially black-
dotted edges; cap innately fibrillose, silvery-
shiny, dark grey; under Picea, Pinus or
Betula ..............................................T. virgatum
Section: Tricholoma
1. Cap, gills and stem pure white to slightly ochre
at cap centre ........................................................2
1. Cap, gills or stem in some part yellow, ochre,
greenish or olive ..................................................3
2. Cap snow white, silky-shiny; gills rather
crowded; fruitbody often with pinkish spots on
cap; stem smooth with bluish spots at base;
under broadleaf trees on rich soils .......................
......................................................T. columbetta
2. Cap snow white but felty, then with ochre or
yellowish spots; gills white spotted yellow;
stem felty-pubescent, without bluish spots,
yellowing at base; with broadleaf trees,
rather rare.......................................T. albidum*
3. Gills yellow from the start...................................4
3. Gills white, cream, or grey, only yellowing with
age if at all...........................................................6
4. Under Populus; spores 5–6.5 x 3.5–4.5 µm; cap
and gills chrome yellow, cap adpressed scaly at
centre, dry to viscid; stem sulphur yellow; odour
and taste farinaceous.....................T. frondosae
4. Under Pinus; spores on average > 6 µm long;
121
Vol 11 (4)
cap and gills lemon yellow, straw yellow to
sulphur yellow, cap often slightly brown scaly
at umbo, viscid; stem white to pale yellow; odour
and taste weakly farinaceous ...........T. equestre
5. Cap grey-brown to almost black, paler, more
whitish or yellowish at margin; viscid and
smooth; gills white soon turning yellow; stem
white with pale lemon flush, smooth to fibrillose,
rather stout; usually with conifers, rarely
broadleaf trees...........................T. portentosum
5. Cap greenish-yellow, yellow, olive-brown,
golden-brown or if greyish then gills also
greyish ................................................................6
6. Spores small (4–6 x 3–5 µm); most hyphae in
pileipellis with clamp connections; cap olive
when young, then straw-yellow or yellow-
brown; under pines ......................T. arvernense
6. Spores longer (> 6 µm), hyphae in pileipellis
without clamp connections, but basal clamps
on basidia sometimes present, cap with or
without greenish tints ........................................7
7. Stem more or less squarrulose; cap olive-green,
olive-brown or golden brown ..............................8
7. Stem smooth or slightly fibrillose; cap yellow,
greenish or greyish .............................................9
8. Slender; cap olive-green, olive-brown or blackish-
olive; spores subglobose, 7–8.5 x 6–7 µm;
without clamps; under conifers ......T. fucatum*
8. Stout; cap golden-brown; spores ellipsoid, 6–7
x 4.5–5 µm; basidia sometimes with clamps;
under pines ...................................T. joachimii*
9. Some spores very large (length > 8.5 µm); cap
pale grey-green or dark olive-green .................10
9. All spores smaller than 8.5 µm; cap yellow-
green, with or without grey-black innate
fibrils .................................................................11
10. Spores homogeneous in size, 8–10 x 5–7 µm;
basidia 4-spored; cap often viscid; gills
greyish to distinctly grey; under broadleaf
trees and conifers ..............................T. luridum
10. Spores very variable in size and shape, but some
at least very large, 7–11 x 6-8.5 µm; basidia 1,2,3
or 4-spored; cap normally not viscid, often with
pale greyish innate fibrils; gills white to pale
greyish; under conifers ..................T. guldeniae
Vol 11 (4)
11. Cheilocystidia globose-pyriform, numerous,
30–60 x 12–25 µm; cap convex-plane to broadly
umbonate, ochre-brown, bronze, bronze-brown,
smooth with innate darker fibrils, with faint
greyish arachnoid veil at margin; gills white
then soon yellowish at margins; stem stout,
whitish with the base often reddish; spores
5.5–7.5 x 5–6 µm; in mixed woods .......................
.....................................................T. clavocystis*
11. Cheilocystidia small and inconspicuous;
other characters differ in some part.................12
12. In conifer woods; Cap greenish-yellow, honey-
yellow, straw-yellow with blackish radial fibrils;
gills white to pale greyish turning yellowish;
stem white, tinted yellow, pinkish near base;
under Pinus...........................T. viridilutescens
12. In broadleaf woods............................................13
13. Cap acutely umbonate, greenish or brownish-
yellow on umbo, whitish at margin, innately
fibrillose; stem white or yellowish, often reddish
at base; odour sl. farinaceous; under Quercus
and Fagus ................................T. umbonatum*
13. Cap convex-plane or at most with broad
domed umbo ......................................................14
14. Cap pale greenish-yellow, darker at centre,
smooth to felty, without darker radial fibres;
gills white, faintly flushed yellow; stem white
flushing yellow at base; spores 5.5–6.5(–8.5) x
4.5-5(–5.5) µm; under Quercus, Carpinus and
Fagus on calcareous soils .......T. viridifucatum
14. Cap yellow to greenish-yellow, olive, brighter
yellow at margin, with distinctly grey-black or
darker olive radial fibrils; gills white or tinted
yellow; stem white tinged yellow, often pinkish
at base; odour and taste strongly farinaceous;
spores (5.5–)6–8(–8.5) x 4–6.5(–7) µm; under
Fagus, Quercus, Corylus and Carpinus on clay
or calcareous soils .........................T. sejunctum
Section: Imbricata
1. Odour of celery, bouillon or curry; cap 5-15
cm, convex with involute margin, felty
granulose surface, cracking into angular flakes,
pale whitish-buff to ochre; gills cream to pale
ochre; stem whitish with some brownish bands
at base; taste mild to farinaceous-spicy; under
Pinus .....................................................T. apium
1. Odour nil or farinaceous.....................................2
122
2. Spores av. < 5.5 µm long; stem shorter than
cap diameter (large10–20 cm ) ...........................3
2. Spores av. > 5.5 µm long; stem longer than
cap diameter (av.4–10 cm)..................................4
3. Cap cream to cinnamon-ochre, with involute
costate margin; gills very crowded, pale
yellowish-cream; stem cream to cinnamon-buff,
smooth to floccose; odour almost nil; taste acrid
or bitter; Under Fagus, Quercus and Castanea
on calcareous soils............................T. acerbum
3. Cap pinkish-brown to pale reddish, margin
costate; gills crowded, yellowish-white; stem
whitish, smooth or fibrillose; odour almost
nil; taste farinaceous to slightly bitter; Under
Pinus in dry heaths...............T. roseoacerbum*
4. Cap with shaggy margin when young; elsewhere
hairy-tomentose, cracking into rather coarse,
fibrillose-hairy scales, reddish-brown; gills
cream-buff to pinkish with brown spots; stem
white above, reddish-brown below, fibrillose;
odour and taste farinaceous; under Picea, Pinus
or Abies ...........................................T. vaccinum
4. Cap margin smooth to felty; elsewhere
tomentose to minutely scaly...............................5
5. Cap yellow-brown to ochraceous; gills white to
pale ochre, sometimes spotted brown; stem
white to pale ochre above, speckled with
red-brown squamules; with Larix, rarely Pinus
or Abies on calcareous soils ........T. psammopus
5. Cap reddish-brown to pinkish-brown, darker
red-brown at centre, with paler yellow-brown
marginal zone; gills white to pale pinkish-
brown; stem white above, pinkish-brown to
ochre-brown below, dark towards base; with
Pinus sylvestris on sandy soils ...T. imbricatum
Section: Albobrunnea
1. Flesh in stem distinctly yellowish; cap
reddish-brown with margin often ribbed, viscid
when wet; gills yellowish spotted with brown;
stem cylindrical, reddish-brown fibrillose, paler
above; under Betula in wet areas .......T. fulvum
1. Flesh white or whitish, with other hosts ............2
2. Stem with thin ring which soon collapses or a
sharply defined white zone at apex.....................3
2. Stem without a narrow ring or a sharply defined
white zone at apex ...............................................6

3. Cap bright orange-apricot, apricot-rust; gills
whitish; stem white at top, sharply delimited
from the orange-brown scaly lower half; under
on calcareous soils.......................T. aurantium
3. Cap dark brown, red-brown, pinkish-buff etc but
not bright orange.................................................4
4. Stem with thin, narrow, membranous ring
which soon collapses to a raised ring-zone;
under Pinus on calcareous soils .......T. batschii
4. Stem without obvious veil; although usually
with sharply delimited upper zone ....................5
5. Cap cuticle taste mild, farinaceous to slightly
bitter; viscid, shiny, pinkish-brown to vinaceous,
with darker fibrils and ribbed; gills white to
pinkish-brown; stem white above, pinkish-
brown below; under Pinus on alkaline soils.........
.............................................T. albobrunneum*
5. Cap cuticle very bitter; glutinous-viscid when
wet, red-brown with paler margin; gills whitish
to pale yellow with brown spots; stem white at
top, distinctly delimited from the red-brown
fibrillose lower part; under Quercus on clay soils
........................................................T. ustaloides
6. Growing with Populus; cap convex-plane to
broadly umbonate, matt, pinkish-brown to
ochre-brown with paler buff margin; gills cream
with reddish-brown spots; stem cream with
reddish-brown fibrils; taste and odour strongly
farinaceous ...................................T. populinum
6. Growing with Fagus or conifers .........................7
7 Growing with Fagus; cap reddish-brown,
smooth, viscid-tacky; gills cream spotted brown;
stem whitish flushed brown below, fibrillose;
odour nil to slightly farinaceous; taste mild to
farinaceous; spores 6–7.5 x 5–6 µm ......T. ustale
7. Growing with conifers.........................................8
8 Cap reddish-brown, yellow-brown, usually
with dark brownish droplet-like spots, glabrous,
viscid when wet; gills cream to pale brown; stem
whitish bruising brown; odour farinaceous; taste
farinaceous to slightly bitter; spores 3.5–5 x
2.5–3.5 µm; with Pinus, Abies or Picea ................
..................................................T. pessundatum
8. Cap reddish-brown to greyish-brown, usually
not spotted, glabrous viscid; gills white to cream;
stem white becoming pale brown below; odour
123
Vol 11 (4)
and taste nil to slightly farinaceous; spores 4–5 x
3–4 µm; with Pinus and Picea ................T. stans
Section: Caligata
1. Odour strongly mealy; cap mostly tawny to
orange-buff with broad umbo, radially fibrillose
breaking up into small scales at the margin,
viscid when wet; gills pale pinkish-buff then
brownish; stem tapered, white above the woolly
ring, with reddish-brown belts and scales below;
with Pinus, Spores 4.5–5.5(-6) x 3–4 µm..............
...............................................................T. focale
1. Odour sweet, floral, not farinaceous...................2
2. Spores on average > 7 µm; cap uniformly brown
when young, then with paler margin, surface
cracking into large fibrillose scales, with woolly
veil remnants at margin; gills whitish; stem
tapering, with large cottony-woolly ring, white
above the ring, with dark brown scaly bands
below; taste perfume-like, acrid or bitter; with
Pinus on sandy soils......................T. matsutake
2. Spores on average < 7 µm; cap whitish to cream
when young, becoming grey-brown with age,
with adpressed large scales, dry; gills whitish;
stem tapered, with a well developed woolly ring,
white above the ring, darker below; taste mild to
aromatic; with Pinus on calcareous soils .............
......................................................T. caligatum*
Section: Megatricholoma
1. Spores 7.5–9 x 5–6.5 µm; stem 3–6 (10) cm wide;
cap 10–25 cm across; sl. viscid, beige-brown to
red-brown with yellowish patches; gills cream to
pale vinaceous; stem 5-22 cm, with woolly-
fibrillose ring-zone when young, white with
reddish-brown fibrous belts below, with
tomentose grey-green base. Under Pinus ............
...........................................................T. colossus
Vol 11 (4)
Fig. 14. T. hemisulphureum
with dull reddish-yellow
cap, pale sulphur yellow
stem and gills and strong
odour of coal gas is often
abundant, growing with
Helianthemum on chalk
grasslands. Watlington Hill,
Oxfordshire Sept. 2010.
Photograph © Geoffrey
Kibby.

Fig. 15. T. scalpturatum

showing the fibrillose scaly
cap and finely fibrous
stem. Note the yellowing
on the edges of the
upturned cap. Photograph
© Mike and Di Hall.

Fig. 16. T. sciodes in a

beech wood, showing the
black-speckled gill edges.
Photograph © Jo
Weightman.

124

Fig. 17. T. virgatum with conical, smooth and innately
fibrillose grey cap. Tulloch Moor, Scotland, 2009.
Photograph © Jo Weightman.
Fig. 18. T. terreum with felty-fibrillose to slightly squa-
mulose cap surface. A common species under Pinus.
Photograph © A.W. Brand.
Fig. 19. T. orirubens showing the reddening of the gills
and cap margin characteristic of the species.
Photograph © Alan Outen.
125
Vol 11 (4)
Notes on species (* = not British)
Recommended picture references (Icones) given at
end of notes: B&K = Breitenbach, & Kränzlin
(1991); G = Galli (1999); Ph = Phillips (1981); R =
Riva (2003); CD = Courtecuisse & Duhem (2003).
Tricholoma acerbum (Bull.) Quél. (Fig. 22)
Quite widespread but mainly in the south, although
never common, this large species grows with
Quercus, Fagus and even Castanea. The pale buff-
cinnamon cap is usually clearly costate-ridged at the
margin which is long inrolled. The cap is normally
broader than the stem is long. A similar but more
pinkish-red species T. roseoacerbum (not yet
British) grows under conifers.
Icones: B&K 408; Ph 40; R 527.
Tricholoma aestuans (Fr.) Gillet
With its rather bright yellowish colours it might be
sought for in Section Tricholoma but its affinities
appear to lie clearly within Section Terrea subsec-
tion Virgata. There are a few Scottish records and
even an English record but it appears uncommon to
rare nevertheless. The innately radially fibrillose
cap with obvious umbo and bitter/acrid taste are
distinctive.
Icones: G 137; R 481,786.
Tricholoma albobrunneum* (Pers.) P. Kumm.
Formerly confused with T. ustale and T. ustaloides
by many authors the true T. albobrunneum has not
yet been recorded here. Its viscid, shiny, vinaceous-
brown cap is quite strongly innately fibrillose; its
stem is pale pinkish-brown with a sharply delimited
white apex, and may be fibrillose-squamulose below.
It may be distinguished from T. ustaloides by its
narrower spores (3–4 µm versus 4.5–6 µm) and cap
cuticle with a mild not bitter taste. From T. ustale
by its strongly farinaceous odour and association
with Pinus (T. ustale has odour almost nil and grows
with Fagus).
Icones: B&K 434 (as T. stans); G 211 (same photo
as B&K);
Tricholoma alboconicum (J.E. Lange)
Clémençon. (Fig. 21)
Newly added to the British list this species has
undoubtedly been described as T. inocybeoides
Pearson in the past but differs in several characters
from the original description of that species.
T. alboconicum is associated with Populus and
Vol 11 (4)
Betula in this country and seems to be locally
common in parts of Kent and probably elsewhere. Its
acutely conical cap is very pale grey to almost white
with a darker grey-brown slightly scaly umbo. It has
almost no visible trace of a veil on the stem and has
very small, narrow spores (4–)4.5–6.5(7) x (2-) 2.5–4
µm. It was originally described as a variety of T.
myomyces (in the sense of Lange a species regarded
here as a synonym of T. argyraceum).
Icones: R 779.
Tricholoma album (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
Exactly how common this species is in the UK is
very uncertain since, in my experience, it is often
misidentified, most often being confused with
T. stiparophyllum. Key characters include the
frequent association with Quercus, the sweeter,
aromatic odour and the even, not sulcate cap margin
when mature. Probably quite rare in the UK, I have
never seen a collection I would refer to this species
myself.
Icones: G 69; R 431, 769 (top).
Tricholoma apium Jul. Schäff. (Fig. 23)
Known from only a few localities under Pinus in
Scotland. This large species is very distinctive;
firstly because the pale buff cap surface breaks up
into large angular scales or plaques and secondly
because it has a unique odour of celery, bouillon or
Lactarius helvus (cumin-curry). It also has rather
small spores, just 3.5–5 x 3–4 µm.
Icones: G 189; R 531, 798.
Tricholoma argyraceum (Bull.) P.Kumm.
The new checklist (Legon & Henrici, 2005) treats
this as a nomen dubium. In the sense of the 1960
checklist it equates to T. scalpturatum. In both
FAN4 and Funga Nordica it is so broadly conceived
that it includes T. inocybeoides. I agree with Funga
Nordica, Bon and Riva that this is a good species.
With care it can be identified in the field by its
combination of more prominently umbonate cap
(versus convex for T. scalpturatum), strongly devel-
oped veil (versus almost absent in T. scalpturatum)
and more elongate spores. It is probably common. I
do not agree with Funga Nordica however that
T. inocybeoides Pearson is a synonym (see under
that species).
Icones: none.
126
Tricholoma arvernense Bon (Fig. 27)
(= T. sejunctoides P.D. Orton)
Previously confused with T. sejunctum this conifer
species has much smaller spores and frequently
develops honey-yellow or even reddish-orange tones
with age. So far known only in Scotland but may
well be more widespread.
Icones: B&K 410; G 145; R 497, 795 (top).
Tricholoma atrosquamosum (Chevall.) Sacc.
It seems likely that our interpretation of
T. atrosquamosum in the UK is incorrect and that
another taxon may be involved. The original descrip-
tion of T. atrosquamosum by Chevalier as Agaricus
atrosquamosus states that it occurs in mossy
mountainous forests in southern Germany and most
authors agree that it is a northern, mountain-loving
species. Many records of T. atrosquamosum are
undoubtedly actually T. squarrulosum (which has a
wider distribution) with less squamulose stems than
normal. Whether the true T. atrosquamosum is
present here is uncertain (I would expect it to be
present in Scotland) and records need to be assessed
carefully. T. atrosquamosum has slightly smaller
spores than T. squarrulosum so careful measure-
ments should be made. Other British records of T.
atrosquamosum quite likely refer to specimens of
T. basirubens without pink-red tones.
Icones: B&K 411 (as T. atrosquamosum);
G 133 (top).
Tricholoma aurantium (Schaeff.) Ricken (Fig. 38)
A rare species in the UK, most records are from
Scotland, although it does not appear to have been
recorded in many years. There is also one possible
record from England. The specimens photographed
in Fig. 38 are from the USA. This species is almost
unmistakable with its bright orange-brown to
apricot-orange colours of cap and stem, adpressed
scales on the cap and distinct and prominent ring-
zone at the stem apex. It grows with Picea, Abies and
sometimes Fagus or Quercus, especially on calcare-
ous soils.
Icones: B&K 412; G 214-215; R656, 807.
Tricholoma basirubens (Bon) A. Riva & Bon
Extensively discussed and illustrated in Field
Mycology 9(4): 136–138, (2008); 10(1):32 & 10(2): 68
(2009), this species is something of a puzzle.
Described by Bon in 1975 as a variety of T. orirubens
(another reddening species) it was raised to species

by Riva and Bon in 1988. Certainly it seems to have
little to do with T. orirubens, differing in spore size
and odour and general appearance. In the report in
FM 9(4):136 Joyce Andrews commented that: “The
reddening of the lower part of the stipe was immedi-
ate and very striking....and my fingers appeared to be
covered in red ink”. To me, this suggests that the
reddening might be the result of some bacterial or
viral infection, hence the oozing of red fluid. If this is
the case then T. basirubens might well occur without
any red tones and then might well be called (incor-
rectly) T. atrosquamosum as discussed under that
species. An examination of the red tissues and/or
fluid by a bacteriologist might well prove interesting
in the future.
Icones: B&K 3:413, Galli 129 (top); R 777.
Tricholoma batschii Mort. Christ. & Noordel.
(= T. fracticum ss. auct. mult.)
A rare species associated with Pinus, it has been
recorded in two locations (Gloucestershire and
Cambridgeshire) but might be expected to be more
widespread. The cap is a rich reddish-brown,
slightly viscid and its stem is similarly coloured up
to a prominent ring-zone; it is white at the apex. Its
flesh is farinaceous-bitter to taste. It is most likely to
be confused with T. ustaloides but that is found with
Fagus. From T. albobrunneum it can be separated
by the much stronger development of the veil
leaving a true veil ring, whereas in T. albobrunneum
there is just a demarcated zone between the stem
apex and the remainder of the stem.
Icones: B&K 419 (as T. fracticum); G 219; R559,808
Tricholoma bonii* Basso & Candusso
As pointed out in the new checklist this species
represents T. argyraceum var. inocybeoides in the
sense of Bon. It differs from T. inocybeoides in the
original sense of Pearson by its larger spores, stem
with scattered white squamules and probable associ-
ation with conifers. As such it has not yet been
reported in the UK but may well be here. Supposed
collections of T. inocybeoides should be carefully re-
examined with this in mind.
Icones: G 121; R 780 (same photo as G)
Tricholoma bresadolanum* Clémençon
Related to the well known T. sciodes and
T. virgatum with which it shares its bitter-acrid
taste, T. bresadolanum differs from both by its
rounded-flattened paler cap with at most a low,
127
Vol 11 (4)
domed umbo and its pale stem speckled with black
squamules. It might well be present, but misidenti-
fied, in this country.
Icones: G 107; R 477, 785.
Tricholoma bufonium (Pers.) Gillet
Often lumped under T. sulphureum, I follow Riva
and Kühner & Romagnesi in keeping it distinct.
There is good evidence (Comandini et al., 2004) that
it might be merely a colour form of T. sulphureum
but for the moment I prefer to maintain it as a
species. The association with conifers and vinaceous-
brown cap are distinctive. It is well illustrated in
B&K3:414. It is rarely reported in the UK although
possibly widespread.
Icones: B&K 414; G 85; R 439, 771.
Tricholoma caligatum* (Viv.) Ricken
Past records of this species from Scotland are likely
misidentifications of T. matsutake. The true
T. caligatum is known to be a species of southern
Europe, with Mediterranean Pinus species such as
P. pinaster, P. pinea and P. halapensis. There is a
possibility that it might occur in southern England
in warm sites with exotic conifers so it is included
here for completeness. Its most striking features
include the very broad, appressed cap scales against
a paler fibrous background, the radicant stem with a
membranous ring and large, dark brown fibrillose
scales and the aromatic-floral odour.
Icones: G 227; R 810-811.
Tricholoma cingulatum (Almfelt) Jacobasch
(Fig. 26)
Often growing in large troops wherever Salix is
present, this gracile species is difficult to confuse
with any other because of the well-formed woolly
ring-zone on its stipe. Common and widely distrib-
uted in the UK.
Icones: B&K 416; G 117; Ph 34; R 469, 778.
Tricholoma clavocystis* Musumeci & Contu
Described from Switzerland (Musumeci & Contu,
2008), this intriguing species is very close to
T. sejunctum with a similarly innately radially
fibrillose cap but with cap brown, bronze or more
ochre without green tints. It also has a fine, greyish
marginal veil (absent in T. sejunctum), and flesh
staining reddish in the stem base. Its most striking
feature however is the abundance of large, pyriform
cheilo- and pleurocystidia, an unusual feature in
Vol 11 (4)
Tricholoma. It occurs in mixed woods and might be
expected to be found here.
Icones: Boll. AMER 73-74 V0l. 24:47-55 (2008)
Tricholoma colossus (Fr.) Quél.
Extremely rare in the UK, it has been recorded from
Scottish Caledonian pine woods. A massive species
reaching 20 or even 30 cm in diameter, the reddish-
brown to vinaceous cap is smooth to viscid when wet
with some innate fibrils and is often unenvenly
pigmented. The gills are rather crowded and are
usually entirely sterile on the margins with simple
cheilocystidia. The very stout stem is pale brown to
pinkish-brown with appressed fibrillose belts,
whitish at the apex. Spores are : 7–10 x 5–6.5 µm.
Icones: G 217; R 567, 809.
Tricholoma columbetta (Fr.) Kumm.
One of our most beautiful and striking species with
its shining, silky-white cap, gills and stem, it is
placed here and by many authors within Section
Tricholoma, whose members are mostly shades of
yellow or greenish (FAN4 places this species into its
own Section, Albata along with T. umbonatum and
T. albidum). The cap may become spotted with
pinkish tones while the base of the stem occasionally
has bluish-grey spots. Fairly common under
broadleaf trees on rich soils.
Icones: B&K417; G 152-3; Ph 40; R 487, 788.
Tricholoma equestre (L.) P. Kumm. (Figs 24–25)
Also known as T. flavovirens, this species is mainly
restricted to Scottish pinewoods but there are a few
records from England also. The bright yellow to
slightly greenish cap is viscid when wet but can be
quite radially fibrillose and squamulose when dry
and old. In broadleaf woods under Populus there is a
similar species, T. frondosae which differs by its
drier cap and smaller spores.
Icones: B&K 418; G 165-7; Ph 34 (as T. flavovirens);
R 517, 791.
Tricholoma filamentosum* (Quél.) Alessio
Never reported here and poorly known or not even
mentioned by most authors. Funga Nordica report it
from Norway and Sweden so it might just occur
here. Similar to T. pardinum but lacking the coarse
scales of that species; mainly fibrillose, breaking up
into irregular scales, it grows with Quercus on
warm, calcareous soils.
Icones: G 91; R 773.
128
Tricholoma focale (Fr.) Ricken (Fig. 37)
Probably confined to pine woods in Scotland, it may
be extinct in England and Wales with no records for
many years. A large, robust species the radially
fibrous cap is a rather bright yellowish-orange-
brown to reddish-brown with a paler margin; it
frequently cracks and splits to reveal paler flesh
beneath. The slightly radicant, robust stem has a
prominent membranous ring below which it is
banded with reddish-brown scales. The flesh is
white, more or less unchanging and strongly farina-
ceous to taste. It has rather small spores (4.5–5.5 x
3–4 µm) compared with other species with promi-
nent rings. Sometimes synonymised with T. robus-
tum, but I follow FAN4 and Orton (1964) in
separating that species by its larger spores and less
fibrillose cap.
Icones: G 225; R 571, 573.
Tricholoma frondosae Kalamees & Shtshukin
Recently described, based on T. equestre var.
populinum, the new name was required because of
the prior existence of T. populinum J.E. Lange. A
beautiful species with bright chrome yellow cap and
gills and restricted to Populus, there is a recent
(2002) record from Easterness, Scotland.
Icones: R 792 (as T. equestre var. populinum).
Tricholoma fucatum* (Fr.) P. Kumm.
A rare species not yet known here, it has very dark,
olivaceous-brown, olivaceous-grey to olive-black cap
colours and a very smooth, shiny cuticle. Its stem is
whitish with darker olive-grey fibrils. It grows with
Pinus and Picea and has been recorded from the
Netherlands, Italy, France and parts of
Fennoscandia. It might be expected to occur in
Scotland.
Icones: G 173; R796.
Tricholoma fulvum (Bull.) Bigeard & H. Guill.
(Fig. 30)
Perhaps our commonest Tricholoma species, this
may be found wherever Betula occurs especially in
wetter sites. It has also been recorded with Quercus
and more rarely Fagus and Picea. The viscid
reddish-brown cap is distinctively costate-ribbed on
the margin when mature, the yellowish gills are
speckled with brown and the flesh of the brown stem
is also yellowish. There is some disagreement as to
whether the taxon occurring with Pinus—usually
called T. pseudonictitans—is synonymous or not. For

Funga Nordica it is and I have followed them here
but it certainly does seem to be quite distinct and
has been recognised in CBIB (online update 2, 2007):
gills pale cream, not yellow, flesh in the stem much
less yellow and cap margin usually not costate.
Icones: B&K 420; G 201 (top); Ph 38; R 539.
Tricholoma gausapatum (Fr.) Quél.
Very similar to the common T. terreum and probably
frequently confused with it. It is distinguished by its
woolly-plush rather than felty-squamulose cap
surface, greyish to grey-glaucous gills which are
very broad (1 cm+) and usually with an obvious
annular veil zone on the stem. According to
Clémencon (1983) it has clamps in the hymenium. It
seems restricted to more southerly countries, not
being recorded from the Netherlands for example,
although there are several British records. Future
records here need careful assessment.
Icones: G 113; R 775.
Tricholoma guldeniae Mort. Christ.
Closely related to other members of the T. sejunctum
group, it is characterised by its greyish-yellow non-
viscid cap and large, often very variably-sized
spores. It appears to prefer coastal woods with Picea
although there have also been Pinus, Quercus,
Betula etc present in some sites. There is a Scottish
record which was cited in the original description of
the species: Lochaber, south of the Pass of Glencoe,
east of Lairig Eilde, 1993.
Icones: none.
Tricholoma hemisulphureum (Kühner) A. Riva
(Fig. 14)
Recently collected fairly widely in the UK (see Field
Mycology 4(1): 30, 2003 and 6(3):103, 2005), this
seems to be quite a distinctive species, forming an
association with Helianthemum. Cap colour varies
from a quite bright brick-red to a duller buff, with
stem and gills varying from yellowish-buff to
brighter yellow. Like the common T. sulphureum it
has the same strong, gassy odour. Funga Nordica
lists only Dryas and Salix as hosts.
Icones: G 77; R 770.
Tricholoma imbricatum (Fr.) P. Kumm (Fig. 31)
One of the commoner species under Pinus on acidic
soils and widely distributed. The dry, matt, slightly
roughened cap cuticle tends to crack and split
towards the margin to form small scales or
129
Vol 11 (4)
squamules. The stem is a pale pinkish-brown to
reddish-brown and minutely granulose.
Icones: B&K 421; G 193; Ph 38; R 537, 801.
Tricholoma inamoenum (Fr.) Gillet
Rarely recorded and poorly understood in Britain.
This species might be placed along with the white
species of Section Saponacea but the large spores,
widely spaced gills and gas-like odour place it clearly
in the group with T. sulphureum. Its rarity here
might be accounted for by its host preference—
Picea. Not native here, Picea in this country seems
to lack many of the associates recorded in Europe
quite commonly.
Icones: B&K 422; G 79; R 435, 770.
Tricholoma joachimii* Bon & Riva
A rare, robust species of pine woods on calcareous or
sandy soils. It is golden yellow to yellow-brown,
often adpressedly scaly with darker brown scales.
The stem is also distinctly squamulose-punctate
with dark olive-brown fibrils. It might be confused
with T. fucatum but that species is more slender
with much larger spores.
Icones: G 147; R 499, 501, 795.
Tricholoma josserandii* Bon
Not yet recorded from the UK, it might be expected
in Scotland since its preferred habitat is pine woods
in sub-montane areas. Key characters are the
broadly convex-flattened, fibrillose-felty, metallic
grey cap, broad glaucous-cream gills, rather taper-
ing-radicant stem and odd odour of bugs (=
Lactarius quietus), chicory or herbage.
Icones: G 103; R 787.
Tricholoma lascivum (Fr.) Gillet
Frequently confused with T. stiparophyllum along
with T. album. Points to look for include the darker,
more grey-buff cap colours, association with Quercus
and Fagus and the longer spores with a Qav >1.6.
Odour rancid-farinaceous to fruity-nauseous.
Probably widespread and perhaps locally common,
good collections with photographs and carefully
measured spores are needed.
Icones: B&K 423; G 75 (above); R 429, 768.
Tricholoma luridum (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
A rare species apparently restricted to woods south
of Fennoscandia. The cap is often viscid, olive-green
to olive-brown or greyish with innate darker fibrils.
Vol 11 (4)

Fig. 20. T. squarrulosum with dense blackish scales on both cap and stem (although the stem is often less squa-
mulose than shown here). Photograph © Jo Weightman.

Fig. 21. T. alboconicum, a small, conical species of Tricholoma with a very pale to almost white cap with darker,
acute umbo. It appears most commonly under Populus and Betula. Bull Heath Pit, Kent. Photo © G. Kibby.

130

The gills are distinctly greyish and rather widely
spaced; the stem is white and rather smooth. Its
spores are large, 8.5–10(-11) x 5.5–7 µm. Associated
with mixed woods there are some old (1895) records
from England and Northern Ireland which need to
be re-assessed.
Icones: G 171; R 797.
Tricholoma matsutake (S. Ito & S. Imai) Singer
(Fig. 39 on back cover)
This name has been officially conserved against the
earlier name T. nauseosum used in CBIB. It is one of
the most important edible fungi crops in various
parts of temperate Asia, Europe and North America.
This species grows with Pinus and has been
recorded in Scotland (e.g. Abernethy). The rounded
cap is uniformly dull brown breaking up into broad
appressed scales and has woolly-fibrillose veil
remnants at the margin. The stem has a prominent
membranous ring below which it is fibrillose with
brown scaly zones and bands. The flesh has a floral
or perfumed odour while the taste is both perfumed
and acrid/bitter. Its spores are on average > 7µm
thus distinguishing it from the broadly similar
T. caligatum (spores < 7 µm). T. focale, similar but
much commoner in Scotland has brighter, reddish or
orange-brown colours and much smaller spores.
Icones: G 229; R 810.
Tricholoma orirubens Quél. (Fig. 19)
Well characterised by the stem, gills and flesh
slowly flushing pinkish-red, by the base of the stem
frequently possessing blue-green spots, pale yellow
basal mycelium and a sweet, rather honey-like or
aromatic odour. Its spores are also smaller than the
other reddening species, T. basirubens. Rather rare
in this country it grows with Fagus, Quercus, Tilia
and Corylus on clay or calcareous soils and most
records are from southern England.
Icones: B&K 425; G 131; R 461, 777.
Tricholoma pardinum* (Pers.) Quél.
Never recorded in Britain (rather surprisingly), it is
hard to believe it would not have been noticed if it
were really here. The large (6–15 cm), robust fruit-
bodies with strikingly scaly caps and massive
clavate stems should be easily recognisable. Spores
are 8–10 x 5.5–6 µm. Severely toxic. Compare closely
with T. filamentosum (also not British).
Icones: B&K 426 (as T. pardalotum); G 89; R 441,
772.
131
Vol 11 (4)
Tricholoma pessundatum (Fr.) Quél. (Figs 33–34)
Associated with Pinus, mostly in Scotland, rare
elsewhere. The yellow-brown to greyish or reddish-
brown cap frequently has darker droplet-like spots
or guttules around the margin but is otherwise
smooth and slightly viscid when wet, without radial
fibrils. The gills are rather crowded and whitish-
cream while the stem is whitish staining brown
when handled. It has a strongly farinaceous odour
and taste.
Icones: G 207; R 543.
Tricholoma populinum J.E. Lange (Fig. 35)
A rare species with all the known sites in southern
and southeastern England strictly associated with
Populus species. The broadly convex cap is pinkish
to reddish-brown or buff, usually with a paler
margin. The stem is dull white to brownish below
and the flesh is mild to taste with a farinaceous
odour. When found it is often in large numbers in
rings around the tree.
Icones: B&K 427; G213; R 555, 805.
Tricholoma portentosum (Fr.) Quél.
Rather common in Scottish Caledonian pine woods
but rarer in England. This species typically appears
late in the year. Its conical cap is smooth, shiny,
dark grey with darker innate fibrils. The white gills
and stout white stem soon flush with pale yellow. In
Europe it is considered a choice edible species. It
can, occasionally, also grow in broadleaf woodlands.
Icones: B&K 428; G 177–179; R 521, 794.
Tricholoma psammopus (Kalchbr.) Quél. (Fig. 32)
Occasional but widespread in the UK. It is found
most commonly with Larix but may also occur rarely
with Pinus and Picea. The pale yellow-brown to buff-
ochre cap is dry to minutely felty but the best field
character is the stem which is nearly always speck-
led with darker brown flecks reminiscent of
Chamaemyces fracidus.
Icones: B&K 429; G 183; Ph 40; R 525, 798.
Tricholoma roseoacerbum* A. Riva
Not yet British but there is every reason to expect its
presence here. It is found in dry heath woods of
Pinus in Scandinavia but further south in France
and Italy it has been recorded in mixed woods with
Quercus and Castanea. Looking very much like
T. acerbum, with a similar costate margin when
mature, it has more pinkish-buff to rose-brown
Vol 11 (4)
colours. The taste is apparently not as bitter.
Icones: G 185; R 529, 799.
Tricholoma saponaceum (Fr.) P. Kumm. (Figs
11–12)
Extremely variable, with over 12 varieties described.
This is almost certainly a species complex which
might be sorted out by further morphological
studies. A form with dark grey-black scales on the
stem was described as var. squamosum by Cooke in
1883 and is perhaps the most distinctive. Another is
listed in CBIB as var. lavedanum (and in FAN4 as
var. boudieri). Widespread and frequent, the oliva-
ceous colours and odd, soapy odour are distinctive.
Icones: B&K 430; G 61–63; Ph 36; R 765–7.
Tricholoma scalpturatum (Fr.) Quél. (Fig. 15)
One of the commoner species of Section
Atrosquamosa, it grows under a wide range of
broadleaf trees and is perhaps best distinguished by
its very narrow spores (2.9-3.6 µm), its broadly
convex, fibrillose-scaly cap with only poorly devel-
oped umbo and the very fugacious veil leaving a
faint cobweb-like annular zone on the stem. All
parts may stain yellowish with age.
Icones: Ph 37 (as T. inocybeoides); G 119 (below).
Tricholoma sciodellum P.D. Orton
The checklist places this species as a synonym of
T. sciodes but I am uncertain on what basis that
decision was made. Riva, Funga Nordica, and FAN4
do not mention it at all and the characters Orton
uses to separate it from the closely related T. sciodes
seem clear and reasonable to me, so I am keeping it
as separate pending further evidence to the
contrary. The gills and flesh becoming infused with
pinkish-buff tints, the predominantly 2-spored
basidia and the association with Betula and possibly
Pinus are all in contrast to the characters of
T. sciodes (see below) which is confined to Fagus.
Icones: none.
T. sciodes (Pers.) C. Martîn (Figs 16)
Apparently confined to Fagus, this is a fairly
common species in my experience. The gills with
black-dotted edges are characteristic, especially
combined with the greyish, innately fibrillose (but
not squamulose) stem. T. sciodes has a very unpleas-
ant bitter to acrid taste. On the continent it has
been confused with T. bresadolanum (T. sciodes ss.
Kühner & Romagnesi is that species) which tends to
132
be less umbonate, paler capped and has a pale stem,
both with distinct scattered black squamules; it
grows with Quercus.
Icones: B&K 432; G 105; R 475, 784.
Tricholoma sejunctum (Sowerby) Quél. (Figs 28)
Rather widespread in woods with Quercus, Fagus
and Betula, it is nowhere very common. The cap has
a broad umbo and is yellow to greenish-yellow or
oliveaceous, with darker innate fibrils, especially at
the centre. The white gills are very broad and often
flushed with yellow at their edges. The stem is
fibrous, white with yellow tints and often pinkish-
red at the base. In conifer woods one should consider
other species such as T. arvernense, T. fucatum,
T. viridilutescens or even T. luridum. In broadleaf
woodlands T. viridifucatum is distinguished by its
smaller spores and lack of radial fibrils.
Icones: G 157; Ph 34; R 789.
Tricholoma squarrulosum Bres. (Fig. 20)
Considered as a variety of T. atrosquamosum by
some authors (and by the checklist) I follow Funga
Nordica in thinking it well separated. The cap with
shaggy margin, tomentose, recurved black scales,
gills frequently with black-spotted margins and
black squamulose stem make it fairly easy to recog-
nise. It is rare in the UK although widespread in the
south and apparently is locally common in parts of
Kent. It seems likely that many records of
T. atrosquamosum in the UK are actually
T. squarrulosum with less squamules on the stem
than usual.
Icones: B&K 411 (as T. atrosquamosum); G 135; Ph
38; R 459, 776.
Tricholoma stans (Fr.) Sacc.
Apparently very rare and known only from Scotland,
although it has been confused with other species in
the past, most notably T. pessundatum. Growing
under Pinus on dry calcareous or sandy soils it
differs from T. pessundatum in its cap not being
spotted, the richer, more reddish-brown colours and
its slightly broader, more ellipsoid spores.
Icones: R 553, 805.
Tricholoma stiparophyllum (S. Lundell) P. Karst.
(Fig. 13)
Perhaps the commonest member of Subgenus
Contexticutis Subsection Lasciva. It is distinguished
by the association with Betula, the sulcate-ribbed
 22 23

24 25

133
Fig. 22. Tricholoma acerbum is a large species with cap typically costate-ribbed at the inrolled margin. Photo © G. Kibby. Fig. 23. T. apium, pale brown with
coarsely squamulose-scaly cap, Photo © Liz Holden. Fig. 24. T. equestre with lemon-green tones, Culbin, Scotland. Photo © Liz Holden. Fig. 25. T. equestre with
Vol 11 (4)

bright chrome yellow colours, North Hampshire, 1 Nov 1975. Photo © Malcolm Storey.
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134
Figs. 26. Tricholoma cingulatum with distinct woolly ring-zone. Photo © G. Kibby. Fig. 27. T. arvernense with rounded, yellow to bronze cap, Nethy bridge, Scotland,
2009. Fig. 28. T. sejunctum with greenish-yellow to yellow-brown cap with darker fibrils, Farningham Wood, 2006. Fig. 29. A mixed collection of Tricholoma caps from
Nethy Bridge, Scotland by Jo Weightman; the centre cap looks very like T. umbonatum which is not yet British. Photos 27–29 © Jo Weightman.

cap margin when mature, the tendency for all parts
to stain grey-brown after several hours and the
smell of insecticide (lindane or commercial fly
spray). There is some argument as to whether this is
the same as T. pseudoalbum Bon (used in Riva) but I
agree with Funga Nordica that this is the case.
Breitenbach & Kränzlin (1991) list a green reaction
with sulfoformol (sulphuric acid and formalin mixed
together on the cap) and this seems a good character
for this species.
Icones: G 73, R 433, 769.
Tricholoma sudum* (Fr.) Quél.
Somewhat similar to the common T. saponaceum in
its darker, grey-brown colours, it differs in its strict
association with conifers, its farinaceous to rancid
odour and much more crowded gills. Kühner &
Romagnesi (1974 edition) point out that it has a
cellular hypodermium in its cuticle unlike the
filamentous hyphae of T. saponaceum.
Icones: G 65, R 425.
Tricholoma sulphurescens Bres.
Looking much like T. stiparophyllum, T. album or
T. lascivum at first sight, the bright yellow reaction
when bruised is the best field character (reminiscent
of Agaricus xanthodermus). Rarely recorded, it
appears to be genuinely rare.
Icones: B&K 436; G 71; R 427, 768.
Tricholoma sulphureum (Bull.) P. Kumm. (Front
cover)
Rather common in the UK, this species is difficult to
mistake for any other with its unformly bright
sulphur-yellow fruitbodies, large spores and very
strong odour of coal gas. Usually with Quercus in the
UK, it has been recorded from a number of other
hosts, including conifers. Several varieties have
been described, usually involving differing colours in
the lamellae or on the cap, but with the exception of
var. hemisulphureum (now given specific status)
none are reported in the UK.
Icones: B&K 437; G 81–82; Ph 34; R 437, 771.
Tricholoma terreum (Schaeff.) P. Kumm. (Fig. 18)
(= T. myomyces (Pers.) J.E. Lange)
Probably our commonest species under conifers and
even occasionally under Fagus the cap is densely
tomentose-felty and frequently has a slight bluish
tone to its grey cap. Perhaps most likely to be
confused with T. triste (not yet British – see Fig. 1))
135
Vol 11 (4)
which has a stem with blackish squamules at the
apex, cap with a white woolly margin and spores
with a larger Q value >1.7. This latter species should
be considered when assessing collections of
T. terreum.
Icones: B&K 438; G 111; Ph 35; R 447-9, 774.
Tricholoma triste* (Scop.) Quél.
Not yet British, the photograph of a collection by Jo
Weightman from Fontainbleau, France (Fig. 1) seem
likely to be this species since they clearly show the
paler, whitish woolly cap margin and the intensely
coloured umbo. The stems are unfortunately not
clearly visible so it is not possible to see if they have
black squamules near the apex or if the gills are
black spotted on the margins. Careful spore
measurements would be needed to confirm its
presence here.
Icones: G 127 (bottom); R 778.
Tricholoma umbonatum* (J.E. Lange) Clémencon
& Bon
Rather similar to T. sejunctum but distinguished by
its acutely umbonate cap which is much paler,
whitish with the umbo slightly greenish-yellow to
brownish with innate fibrils. Its spores are a little
smaller overall. It is considered to be a very rare
species growing in woods of Fagus and Quercus on
calcareous soils. Not yet officially British although a
photograph taken in Scotland by Jo Weightman
shows what might well be this species (Fig. 29).
Icones: G 151; R 488, 788.
Tricholoma ustale (Fr.) P. Kumm.
Growing with Fagus this species can be locally quite
common, especially in the southern counties of
England. The reddish brown cap is smooth, viscid
when wet and without obvious radial fibrils. The
cream gills are soon spotted with brown. The stem is
fibrous, white with darker brown fibrils, darker
below and without any obvious ring-zone. The odour
is nil to slightly farinaceous as is the taste.
Icones: B&K 439; G 205; P 39; R 549, 806.
Tricholoma ustaloides Romagn. (Fig. 36)
Occasional but widespread in England but probably
much confused with other species (T. albobrunneum,
T. ustale etc). Associated with Fagus, Quercus and
Carpinus it is best distinguished by the stem being
brown and fibrous up to a very distinct apical white
zone. The cap is reddish-brown and viscid with a
 30 31
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136
Fig. 30. Tricholoma fulvum with viscid reddish-brown cap and distinctly costate margin, E. Sussex, 7 Nov. 1976. Photo © Malcolm Storey. Fig. 31. T. imbricatum with dry cuticle
cracking into small scales at the margin. Photo © Jo Weightman. Fig. 32. T. psammopus showing the rather bright orange-brown to buff colours and the speckled-squamulose
stems, E. Inverness-shire, 20 Aug. 1975. Photo © Malcolm Storey. Fig. 33. T. pessundatum under pines, Nethy Bridge, Scotland. Photo © Jo Weightman.

bitter cuticle and the flesh has a strongly farina-
ceous odour and taste.
Icones: B&K 440; G 223; R 563,809.
Tricholoma vaccinum (Schaeff.) P. Kumm.
Rather rare in the UK with most records being from
Scotland. Its dull, reddish-brown to pinkish-brown
cap is hairy-tomentose with a shaggy margin when
young and soon breaks up into flattened scales. Its
taste may be strongly farinaceous. Mainly associ-
ated with Picea but also with Pinus on sandy or
calcareous soils.
Icones: B&K 441; G 191; Ph 38; R 533,, 800.
Tricholoma vinaceogriseum Orton
This species has been forgotten or overlooked by
authors; it is not mentioned in Funga Nordica or by
Riva but is referenced in FAN4. Good collections
with photographs are urgently needed to assess the
constancy of its features. Distinguishing characters
are the robust, conical, vinaceous-grey cap which is
felty-tomentose rather than innately fibrillose and
the gills turning clay-buff to deep vinaceous-buff.
Spores 6–8 x 4.5–6 µm. It is only known from the
Scottish Highlands.
Icones: none.
Tricholoma virgatum (Fr.) P. Kumm. (Fig. 17)
Frequently reported but possibly often misidenti-
fied. Key features include the acutely conical cap,
shiny, innately fibrous cuticle and rather uniformly
dark grey colours. The gills are white to pale grey
and the white stem has darker grey fibrils. In partic-
ular the acrid to very acrid or bitter taste should be
sought for. Growing mainly with conifers it is proba-
bly widespread but commonest further north. If
collected in broadleaf woods then you should
consider T. sciodes or T. sciodellum instead.
Icones: B&K 442; G 101; R 473,784.
Tricholoma viridifucatum Bon
There are scattered records of this species in south-
ern England with Quercus but its true frequency is
unknown since it may have been confused in the
past with T. sejunctum. From that species it is
distinguished by the yellowish-green to olivaceous
cap not having innate, darker fibrils, being instead
rather smooth, felty-matt, the very slightly smaller
spores and the basidia possessing clamp connec-
tions.
Icones: R 503, 796.
137
Vol 11 (4)
Tricholoma viridilutescens M.M. Moser
Apparently fairly widespread in the UK. It is associ-
ated with conifers and was undoubtedly confused
with T. sejunctum in the past. It differs from that
species both by its preferred hosts and by its darker,
blackish-green strongly fibrillose cap with yellow
margin, gracile stature and odourless flesh (farina-
ceous in T. sejunctum). FAN4 considers this to be a
synonym of T. sejunctum but Funga Nordica
maintain it as a good species.
Icones: G 161; R 495, 791.
NOTES ON EXCLUDED, EXTRALIMITAL OR
OTHER PROBLEMATIC SPECIES
Tricholoma albidum* M. Bon
Described by Bon in 1984 this species is very close to
(and is perhaps just a variety of) T. columbetta. It
has the white to cream colours of that species but
differs in its smaller stature, felty rather than silky-
fibrillose cap and stem, and a tendency to discolour
yellow in the cap cuticle, gills and stem base. It
grows with broadleaf trees and has been recorded
from France, Germany, Lichtenstein and
Switzerland and should be looked out for here. It is
well illustrated in Galli and Riva.
Tricholoma bisporigerum* Lange
Described by Jacob Lange in 1933 this species looks
extremely close to the modern concept of T. terreum,
as already pointed out by Riva and others. Its bi-
spored condition might just be an extreme case of a
very common phenomenon in many species: a
proportion of basidia will produce just one, two or
even three spores instead of the usual complement
of four.
Tricholoma coryphaeum* (Fr.) Gillet
Illustrated and described in both Galli and Riva as a
rare, Mediterranean species associated with
Quercus cerris and Q. ilex, it is unlikely that their
concept of this yellow species is the same as that of
Fries. In his original description Fries described it
as associated with Fagus and occurring in
Smolandia and Hallandia (both in southern
Sweden). Its cap is described as yellow with darker,
fuscous fibrils and punctae. The stem is described as
clavate-bulbous and pallid, whitish-straw (“strami-
neo-albidus”). This sounds very much like the
modern concept of T. sejunctum. As described and
 34 35
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138
Fig. 34. Tricholoma pessundatum showing the dark guttules which frequently spot the cap margin. Inverey, Scotland. Photo © Liz Holden. Fig. 35, T. populinum. Part of a large
group under Populus in Kew Gardens, Surrey, November 2009. Photo © Geoffrey Kibby. Fig. 36, T. ustaloides with its distinctive white apical zone on the stem, viscid cap and
association with Fagus. Photo © Jo Weightman. Fig. 37. T. focale showing the rather bright colours and the fibrillose cuticle with a tendency to split. Scotland. Photo © Jo
Weightman.

illustrated by Riva and Galli on the other hand, T.
coryphaeum is a bright, golden yellow-capped,
smooth species with a fibrillose-squamulose umbo,
and a stem which is also strongly flushed yellow.
These contrast with the white, yellow-edged gills. It
is highly likely that theirs is a good, thermophilic
taxon, closely related to T. equestre and as such
probably requires a new name. To my knowledge,
nothing resembling this has been seen in Britain but
it might just occur under non-native oaks.
Tricholoma ezcarayense* C.E. Hermosilla & J.
Sánchez
Described in 1992 near Rioja in Spain, this species is
a look-alike of T. ustale and like that species grows
with Fagus (and also with Pinus). It differs macro-
scopically by its more gracile stature, cap cuticle
minutely adpressed scaly and the cap colour
reddish-brown with some slight greenish tones.
Microscopically it is very distinctive in having
numerous clamps throughout the cuticular tissues
as opposed to T. ustale which is clampless. Its
relationships would seem to lie with the species
around T. sejunctum and T. arvernense, i.e. Section
Tricholoma of this work rather than Section
Albobrunnea. It is quite possible that it might occur
here and odd looking specimens of T. ustale should
be investigated microscopically.
Tricholoma leucoterreum* Mariotto & Turetta
A pure white species, described growing with oaks,
ash and Ostrya in Italy but also known from France
and Spain, it agrees in almost all characters, except
the colour, with T. terreum. Indeed, it may be the
same as a new taxon described a year earlier (1995)
as T. terreum fo. niveum Tabarés & Rocabruna. Galli
however places T. leucoterreum into his Stirps
Scalpturatum rather than Stirps Terreum.
Christensen & Noordeloos (1999) consider it as
probably an albino form of T. terreum.
Tricholoma myomyces Pers.
Maintained as a separate species by Galli and Riva,
I agree with Christensen & Noordeloos (1999) and
Funga Nordica that the differences between this
and T. terreum (conical versus rounded cap,
presence or absence of cortinate veil) are too variable
to justify their separation. This is also the position
adopted by the new checklist. Old and new records
from this country need to be carefully re-assessed.
139
Vol 11 (4)
Tricholoma inocybeoides A. Pearson
A source of much confusion and disagreement, this
species was described by Pearson (1938) and illus-
trated in his paper by E.M.Wakefield. The painting
(Fig. 40, back page) shows a gracile, rather pale
species with a distinctly conical cap looking rather
like a species of Inocybe (this resemblance is noted
by Pearson), hence the specific epithet. His original
diagnosis contains some interesting points which, if
we are to identify any modern collection with his
species, should be present. He says: “Pileus 1–3 cm,
grey with whitish bloom, acutely umbonate, umbo
dark with purplish tinge”. He makes no mention of
any veil. He gives a spore size of “4.5–6 x 2.5–3 µm”,
i.e. rather small and narrow. He goes on to say that
the gills are: “crowded, white turning yellow, deeply
emarginate..”. Finally he says: “Smell strong,
unpleasant”. Unfortunately there does not appear to
be a type specimen in existence although the paint-
ing could serve as an iconotype.
The purplish hue to the cap is seemingly conve-
niently brushed over by most authors, since very few
Tricholoma species have such a colour; most often it
is present in T. sciodes but that species differs in
several other characters, in particular larger spores
and lack of yellowing. Funga Nordica synonymises
T. inocybeoides with T. argyraceum which does at
least share some of the characters – the small spores
and yellowing gills in particular. It might also be
T. alboconicum as described in this paper. In my
experience however, neither have a purplish hue to
the cap, nor a nauseous odour.
Most authors have their own personal interpreta-
tion of the species. Basso & Candusso (1997)
selected a neotype for T. inocybeoides (unwisely in
my opinion) based on a collection by Derek Reid from
Kew Gardens. Since Reid (1955) described the collec-
tion of T. inocybeoides as “abundant under
poplars…” it seems likely that they represent
T. alboconicum as described here.
I do not think there is any modern species
concept which entirely fits that of Pearson and until
such a collection is found (preferably from the type
locality: Charlton Forest, Cocking, Sussex) I feel it is
best considered as a nomen confusum.
So what are we left with? I feel that the very pale
and conical species occasionally collected under
Populus in this country (and probably assigned by
collectors to I. inocybeoides) equates with
T. myomyces var. alboconicum of Lange (1935, Fig.
23b). I agree with Funga Nordica that this is a good
Vol 11 (4)
species and agrees well with modern collections and
so T. alboconicum is my preferred name to use for
such collections.
Icones: TBMS XXII pl.III (1938).
Tricholoma robustum (Alb. & Schwein.) Ricken
Although included in the new Checklist I follow
Funga Nordica and Riva (2003) in treating it as a
synonym of T. focale. Orton (1964) however, consid-
ered T. robusta to be a species with slightly longer
spores (4.5–5.5(6) x 3–3.5 µm versus 3–4.5 x 2.25–3
µm for T. focale) and darker, more reddish-brown
cap and smell of cucumber rather than meal. Fresh
collections might help to throw more light on this
problem.
Acknowledgements
My thanks as ever to Alick Henrici for his invaluable
assistance in the preparation of this work and for
helping to unravel some of the more puzzling aspects
of Tricholoma nomenclature and taxonomy. My
thanks also to Dr Brian Spooner and the staff in the
Mycology Department, the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, for their assistance and for access to the collec-
tions and library resources. And lastly to the photog-
raphers who allowed me free use of their beautiful
photographs.
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Additional reading
Christensen, M. & Heilmann-Clausen, J. (2009).
Two new boreal species of Tricholoma from
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Riva, A. (1998). Tricholoma. Fungi Non Delineati
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