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Western Matsutake
The western North American matsutake: a firm, white-capped Tricholoma with a thick sheathing veil and a strong spicy odor, often found half-buried in conifer duff. The name T. magnivelare was long used for it. A 2017 molecular study restricted T. magnivelare to eastern North America, leaving T. murrillianum as the western species. It is a prized edible and is commercially harvested and exported.
Edible and choice. Main danger: Amanita smithiana, which causes delayed kidney damage. A. smithiana has a swollen stem base extending into a root-like point, with whitish veil fragments in rings at the top of the bulb, and a ragged, often missing ring; it lacks the spicy matsutake odor. Matsutake has a thick sheathing veil on a solid stem. Dig up the whole base. If in doubt, throw it out.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
