Caulorhiza umbonata (Peck) Lennox
Mycotaxon IX(1): 154. 1979.

Photo: Note the long radicating stipes

Common Name: Redwood Rooter

Synonym: Collybia umbonata Peck

• Pileus

  Cap 5-15 cm broad, conic with an incurved margin and pointed umbo, becoming planoconvex, the disc then sometimes shallowly depressed but still umbonate; in age the margin wavy, fluted to upturned; surface moist, hygrophanous, smooth, ochraceous-brown, buff-brown to dingy tawny-brown, fading overall at maturity; flesh thin, pallid to cream; odor and taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnexed, close, moderately broad, cream, in age cream-buff, the edges occasionally discoloring brown.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4.5-13 cm tall, 1.3-2.5 cm thick, more or less equal, cartilaginous, striate, sometimes flattened, to furrowed, cottony mycelium at the base, the latter continuing as a root-like projection; surface pruinose, cream to dingy-buff; flesh pale-buff, fibrous; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 4.5-6 x 2.5-3 µm, elliptical, smooth, amyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Solitary to scattered under Coast Redwood; fruiting from early to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  Caulorhiza umbonata is one of the few medium to large mushrooms that fruits under Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). The conic, when young, yellowish-brown cap with a pointed umbo, and pseudorhiza which extends deep into the substrate make it an easy species to identify.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Caulorhiza umbonata (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Caulorhiza umbonata (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Caulorhiza umbonata (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Caulorhiza umbonata (CP)
  • Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month: Caulorhiza umbonata (D & CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 218 (D), p. 219 (P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 49 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 743 (D), plate 73 (CP)

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)