Tricholoma terreum - Grey Knight

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

A fairly common find, Tricholoma terreum is a good edible mushroom but can be confused with other slightly poisonous grey Tricholoma species. Mainly confined to coniferous woods, although occasionally found under deciduous trees, this largish Tricholoma prefers calcareous soil. Rarely solitary, these mushrooms are usually found in quite large groups. The common name Grey Knight is now given to this felty-capped mushroom of pine woods and forests.

Care is necessary when gathering these mushrooms for food, because Tricholoma pardinum, another greyish species, is slightly poisonous; however, its mealy smell helps distinguish it from the almost odourless Tricholoma terreum.

Identification Guide

	Cap Silkily fibrous, the cap of this autumn fungus is at first conical but eventually almost flat with a slight umbo. mouse-grey or grey-brown fibres radiate from the centre of the cap, which at maturity measures between 3 and 10cm in diameter. The edge of the cap is noticeably paler than the centre.
	Gills White, turning grey and often tinged with yellow as the fruiting body ages, the gills are sinuate, broad and crowded.
	Stem The stems are smooth, white and more or less even in diameter. There is no stem ring.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Mycorhizal with softwood trees, notably pines, on rich calcareous soils.
Season	August to October.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Tricholoma pardinum (syn. Tricholoma tigrinum) is a larger mushroom with a mealy odour; it is slightly poisonous.