Hypholoma capnoides - Conifer Tuft

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

The pale grey gills (never green) of Hypholoma capnoides, the Conifer Tuft, help distinguish it from its poisonous close relative the Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare).

Considered edible, this species is easily confused with other fungi (for example Sulphur Tufts) from the same genus that are inedible or even poisonous. If you need a further disincentive its small size and infrequent occurrence surely make it a mushroom that is not worth collecting to eat.

Identification Guide

	Cap Pale veil remnants are visible at the edge of the rounded caps, which are greasy with bright orange centres in wet weather and dry to pale orange-brown. 3 to 7cm in diameter, with pale yellow flesh.
	Gills The grey adnate gills turn grey-brown as the fruitbody matures.
Stem	5 to 10mm in diameter and 5 to 8cm tall; pale yellow at the top and rusty brown towards the base.
Spore print	Dark wine-brown.
Odour/taste	No significant odour; the taste is mild.
Habitat	In small tufts or singly on conifer stumps and on buried or exposed roots of dead conifers.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Hypholoma lateritium, commonly referred to as Brick Tuft, is a larger species with a brick-red central zone and paler margin; it has creamy-yellow gills when young.