A large, attractive and poisonous Tricholoma with a whitish to pale grey cap covered in grey-brown to nearly black scales. It has a mealy odour and causes severe gastrointestinal poisoning. Its firm flesh and pleasant appearance have led to many poisonings in Europe.
POISONOUS. Causes severe gastrointestinal poisoning (violent vomiting and diarrhoea), sometimes needing hospital treatment; the toxin is not identified. Do not eat. Separate it from edible grey Tricholomas (T. terreum, T. portentosum) by its larger size, distinct dark scales and mealy odour.
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Habitat
Ectomycorrhizal with conifers in northern and montane areas; in coastal California with tanoak, madrone and live oak. Alone, scattered or in groups, in fall, or in winter on the West Coast.
Distribution
North America, Europe and parts of Asia (Turkey, China, Japan). In North America the name covers a northern and montane conifer associate resembling the European species and a hardwood-associated species in coastal California that may or may not be the same organism.
Characteristics
Cap: 4-15 cm, broadly convex to flat or bell-shaped, dry, whitish to pale grey under small grey-brown to nearly black scales. Gills: notched, whitish to dull greyish. Stem: 3-12 cm, white, silky-fibrous, sometimes browning where handled; no ring. Flesh: thick, firm, white to pale grey, not changing when cut; odour mealy. Spore print: white. Spores: ellipsoid, smooth, 7-9 x 4-5 µm. Chemistry: KOH negative on cap (MushroomExpert.com).
