Leucopaxillus gentianeus (Quel.) Kotlaba

Common Name: none

Misapplied name: Leucopaxillus amarus (Alb. & Schwein.: Fr.) Kⁿhner

• Pileus

  Cap 5-11 cm broad, convex, expanding to plano-convex, sometimes with a broad umbo; margin at first incurved, becoming decurved, obscurely to conspicuously striate; surface smooth, dry, dull, reddish-brown to cinnamon brown, the margin lighter; flesh thick, white; taste bitter, odor usually unpleasant.

• Lamellae

  Gills close, adnate to notched, sometimes slightly decurrent, narrow, white, becoming cream.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-8 cm tall, 1-2.5 cm thick, equal or tapering to an enlarged base; surface white, smooth, sometimes developing brownish stains at the base, the latter embedded in a layer of dense, white mycelium; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 4.5-6 x 3.5-5 µm, nearly round, warted, ornamentation amyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Forming rings and arcs under conifers, e.g. Coast Redwood, Monterey Pine, and Monterey Cypress; less common with hardwoods; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Inedible; very bitter.

• Comments

  Leucopaxillus gentianeus is a medium sized, robust mushroom with a dull, reddish-brown to cinnamon-brown, striate cap. It resembles some of the red-brown Tricholomas, but none have the combined characters of a dense, white mycelium and a bitter taste. An examination of the spores, which are nearly round and have amyloid ornamentation, will also help confirm an identification.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Brother Alfred Brousseau: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP) -- note the white mycelium at the base of the stipe, typical for Leucopaxillus
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP) -- this is a large sporocarp!...the knife is 23.5 cm (9.25 inches) long!
  • Michael Wood: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP) -- gill closeup
  • Michael Wood: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP) -- note the copious white mycelial mat the the base of the stipe
  • Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands: Leucopaxillus gentianeus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 168 (D), plate 31 (CP) [Leucopaxillus amarus]
  • Arora (1991): p. 59 (D & CP) [Leucopaxillus amarus]
  • Lincoff: p. 768 (D), plate 277 (C) [Leucopaxillus amarus]
  • McKenny et al.: p. 83 (D), p. 84 (CP) [Leucopaxillus amarus]
  • Miller: sp. 158 (D & CP) [Leucopaxillus amarus]
  • Phillips: p. 57 (D & CP)
  • Smith: sp. 85 (D & CP) [Leucopaxillus amarus]

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