Entoloma conicum

[Basidiomycota > Agaricales > Entolomataceae > Entoloma . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

The little pointy caps of Entoloma conicum are often such a pale version of brown that they appear nearly white from but a short distance, contrasting with the dark stem. The stem also contrasts with the tiny whitish flecks scattered on its surface, and the stark white basal mycelium at its base. Like all entolomatoid mushrooms it features a pink spore print and gills that are attached (at least a little bit) to the stem.

Nolanea bicoloripes is a very similar species found in coast redwood forests on the West Coast. Not a lot separates it from Entoloma conicum, other than the range and ecology.

Nolanea conica and Inocephalus conicus are synonyms.

I am treating Entoloma alboumbonatum as a separate species (one with a whiter cap, a white stem, and predominantly 4-sided spores), although several authors believe the two names represent synonyms. See the linked page for details.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic; growing scattered or gregariously in hardwood forests, often in wet, low-lying areas; summer and fall; eastern North America. The illustrated and described collection is from Pennsylvania.

Cap: 1–2 cm across; conic to broadly conic, with a prominent central "nipple"; finely, radially silky; dry; pale brownish to dirty, pale gray, usually with a whiter protruding center; the margin incurved throughout development, and not prominently lined.

Gills: Narrowly attached to the stem; close; white at first, becoming pink; short-gills frequent.

Stem: 4–8 cm long; 2–3 mm thick; equal; dry; finely pruinose with whitish flecks; dull brown to dark brownish gray; basal mycelium white, contrasting starkly.

Flesh: Thin; grayish.

Odor: Not distinctive.

Spore Print: Pink.

Microscopic Features: Spores 6–10 x 5–8 µm; 4- to 6-sided (often cuboid but also often more complex); with a 1 µm apiculus extending from one corner; smooth; hyaline in KOH. Basidia 4-sterigmate. Hymenial cystidia not found. Pileipellis a cutis; elements 5–10 µm wide, smooth, hyaline in KOH. Clamp connections not found.

REFERENCES: (Saccardo, 1887) Hesler, 1967. (Peck, 1872; Largent, 1994; McNeil, 2006; Baroni, 2017; Sturgeon, 2018.) Herb. Kuo 07221407.

This site contains no information about the edibility or toxicity of mushrooms.

Spores

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2019, September). Entoloma conicum. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/entoloma_conicum.html