A medium-sized, sticky-capped Stropharia of northern and mountain conifer forests. The reddish-brown to purple-brown cap fades to tan, and the stem carries a persistent white skirt-like ring above a conspicuously shaggy, scaly lower portion. It often fruits from well-decayed wood.
Widely distributed in northern and montane North America in conifer forests (MushroomExpert; collections from Colorado and Quebec). Also occurs in northern Europe, where it was first described.
Characteristics
Cap: 3.5-8 cm, convex to broadly conic becoming nearly flat; sticky, bald; reddish brown to purple-brown, fading to tan or pale yellowish brown; white veil remnants near the margin. Gills: broadly attached, close; pale gray becoming purplish gray to purple-black. Stem: 6-10 cm long, 1-1.5 cm thick; white skirt-like ring with a grooved upper surface; shaggy-scaly with whitish girdles below. Flesh: white. Odor: somewhat foul or pumpkin-like. Spore print: dark purple-brown to blackish. Spores: 12-15 x 6-7.5 um, ellipsoid, smooth, with a small pore.
