25 August 2021 East Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Yellowing Woodwax Cap Convex, expanding with age, sometimes centrally depressed, white when young, then yellowish, margin becoming ochraceous then dark brown, smooth when dry, slimy when moist, about 4 to 8 cm across Gills Adnate to subdecurrent, broad, whitish, then tinged yellow, brown when dry Stem Cylindrical, sometimes flattened, tapered towards the base, whitish, slimy when moist, fibrillose when dry, coarsely scaly at apex Flesh White Smell Pleasant, sweetish to mushroomy Taste Indistinct to slightly fungal Season Late summer to early winter Distribution Frequent in southern and western England, rarely reported in Wales and Scotland, widespread Habitat On soil in woods with beech Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (7-9) x (5-6) µm2. Basidia club shaped, mostly 4 spored. Edibility Edible Notes All parts turn dark brown when exposed to KOH solution. 
A fruiting body a few minutes after KOH solution was applied to the cap, gills and stem. 25 August 2021 East Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores in Melzer's solution viewed with a x100 immersion objective. 25 August 2021 East Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |