Old Man of the Woods
Description
Cap convex to vaulted, 2-12 cm, smoky grey with white patches, later mouse-grey to dark brown or olive-coloured black, with large, thick wart-like dark to black-brown scales, which partly exceed the rim.
Tubes white to grey, turning brown to pink red at pressure. Pores big, angular, white to grey.
Stem 8-10 x 1-2 cm, with a white to mouse-grey top, further covered with dark brown to black-brown scales. Flesh white, turning wine-red to coral-red, when damaged turning brown. Taste weak. Smell weak.
Spore-print colour purple-black.
Occurrence
Near deciduous trees in old slope forests on rather poor, loamy soils.
Forming ectomycorrhiza.
Status
Vulnerable (Red Data List, ed. 1)