Tricholoma question

[RobSutton]

I've got this down to a choice of two T. ustaloides or T. ustale (though of course I might be on completely the wrong track).

Various books I've looked at suggest that on the continent T. ustale is found mainly under Beech and T. ustaloides under Oak, does that also hold true in the UK? The UK stuff I've seen talks about mixed deciduous woodland rather than specifically Fagus or Quercus.

This one was under Beech (and a long way from any Oak trees) at Malham Tarn.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

I've got this down to a choice of two T. ustaloides or T. ustale (though of course I might be on completely the wrong track).

Various books I've looked at suggest that on the continent T. ustale is found mainly under Beech and T. ustaloides under Oak, does that also hold true in the UK? The UK stuff I've seen talks about mixed deciduous woodland rather than specifically Fagus or Quercus.

This one was under Beech (and a long way from any Oak trees) at Malham Tarn.

Hi Rob

In the field it's all down to the smell with this one. T. ustaloides smells strongly of meal whilst T. ustale has only a very faint (if any IMO) smell. Otherwise they are near identical macroscopically.

John

[mollisia]

Hello,

Tirhcoloma ustale is usually more slender then ustaloides, less bitter and the cap margin is more evidently ripped in ustaloides then in ustale. But the most important feature is the stipe apex: sharply delimited white in ustaloides vs. only gradually becoming whitish in ustale.

Only from looking at the picture it seems that it could be ustaloides, but the stipe apex is not to see, so I don't dare a sincere suggestion .... Growth under Fagus indicates indeed ustale ....

best regards,
Andreas

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by FungiJohn

Hi Rob

In the field it's all down to the smell with this one. T. ustaloides smells strongly of meal whilst T. ustale has only a very faint (if any IMO) smell. Otherwise they are near identical macroscopically.

John

Thanks John - luckily I was able to track down the same tree and re-find the specimen. To me the smell was just a faint mushroomy sort of smell, nothing stronger.

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello,

Tirhcoloma ustale is usually more slender then ustaloides, less bitter and the cap margin is more evidently ripped in ustaloides then in ustale. But the most important feature is the stipe apex: sharply delimited white in ustaloides vs. only gradually becoming whitish in ustale.

Only from looking at the picture it seems that it could be ustaloides, but the stipe apex is not to see, so I don't dare a sincere suggestion .... Growth under Fagus indicates indeed ustale ....

best regards,
Andreas

and I got a shot of the stipe - it looks like the transition is gradual rather being sharply delimited so I guess that means T. ustale - thanks once again Andreas.

[mollisia]

Hello Rob,

I should think so.
Here are two pictures of T. ustaloides, which is by the way VERY bitter. The white zone of the stipe apex is often even better to see then in my picture.





best regards,
Andreas

[RobSutton]

Andreas - thanks for posting the two shots of T. ustaloides it does really make the difference between the stems of the two species very clear.