Tricholoma dryophilum (Murrill) Murrill
Mycologia 5(4): 223. 1913.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 5-15 cm broad, at first broadly conic with an inrolled margin, expanding to nearly plane, the margin then wavy and sometimes uplifted; surface viscid when moist, pallid to cream, becoming streaked, pale to medium cinnamon-brown, the margin lighter; in age darker brown overall and often innately fibrillose; flesh white, moderately thick, firm; odor and taste farinaceous.

• Lamellae

  Gills notched, broad, close, pallid, darkening slightly in age, the edges bruising or discoloring brown.

• Stipe

  Stipe 6-13 cm tall, 1-4.5 cm thick, varying from stout to "leggy," stuffed at maturity; equal to enlarged at the base; surface moist, white, finely striate at the apex, fibrillose brown over a pallid background below, bruising and discoloring brown in age; flesh white unchanging; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 5-6 x 4-4.25 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious, or clustered under oak, especially Coast Liveoak (Quercus agrifolia); fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  This oak-loving Tricholoma is often found fruiting partially buried in duff. When immature, the cap is nearly white, but soon develops pinkish to cinnamon brown streaks, the margin remaining pallid. In age the pileus becomes cinnamon-brown to medium-brown overall and innately fibrillose. Tricholoma manzanita also has a pallid cap when young but is more orange-brown at maturity, has a pale yellow stipe apex, lacks a farinaceous odor, and as the species name suggests, occurs under species of Arctostaphylos. Although Tricholoma dryophilum is typically associated with Quercus agrifolia, we have found two collections under Eucalyptus.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma dryophilum (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma dryophilum (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma dryophilum (CP)
  • Shanks: p. 20 (D)

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