17 November 2023 Preston Oak HIlls near Bentworth, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Convex, expanding with age, often with a central bump, surface initially felty then breaking up into woolly scales, dark grey brown to blackish brown, margin paler, to about 10 cm across Gills Emarginate, broad, crowded to fairly distant, white to pale grey, sometimes reddish with age, sometimes with blackish spots on the gill edges Stem Cylindrical to club shaped, whitish, fibrous, sometimes with blue-green or magenta spots at the base when picked, basal mycelium yellowish Flesh Firm, whitish Smell Sweet to mealy Taste Mealy Season Autumn Distribution Rarely recorded Habitat On soil, usually calcareous, with beech trees Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (4-6.5) x (3-5) µm2, average Q = 1.2 - 1.4. Basidia mostly 4 spored. Clamp connections absent. Edibility Although edible, the species should be left due to its rarity 
A view in situ. 17 November 2023 Preston Oak HIlls near Bentworth, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
The bases of two stems showing blue-green colouration. 17 November 2023 Preston Oak HIlls near Bentworth, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
A specimen photographed one week after collection, note the pink gill edges. 17 November 2023 Preston Oak HIlls near Bentworth, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores in Congo Red solution viewed with a 100X immersion objective. 17 November 2023 Preston Oak HIlls near Bentworth, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |