Spring Pine-cone Toadstool
Description
Cap convex to plane with umbo, Ø 1-2.5 cm, smooth, matt, ochrous brown to dark grey-brown or red-brown, paler at the centre. When young occasionally completely white (569C.jpg).
Gills broad, nearly free, white to grey-white.
Stem 3-8 cm x 1.5-2 mm, tough, ochrous to red-brown, white at the apex and with a felted, rooting base. Flesh white. Smell faint, pleasant. Taste bitter.
Spore-print colour white.
Suspect.
Occurrence
On (buried) Fir cones, rarely on Spruce cones in coniferous and mixed woods on sand. March to June
Saprophyte.
Related and/or similar species
- Strobilurus esculentus
(only microscopically distinct).
- Strobilurus stephanocystis.