Tricholoma magnivelare (Peck) Redhead
Trans. Mycol. Soc. Japan 25(1): 6. 1984.

Common Name: Matsutake

Synonyms: Agaricus magnivelaris Peck;Agaricus ponderosus Peck; Armillaria ponderosa (Peck) Sacc.; Armillaria arenicola Murrill

• Pileus

  Cap 5-25 cm broad, convex to plano-convex, margin inrolled at first, upturned in age; surface dry to subviscid when moist, white when young, developing yellow to orange or brownish stains in age; flesh thick, white; odor distinctly fragrant.

• Lamellae

  Gills white, spotted brown in age, crowded, adnate to adnexed to sinuate.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-15 cm long, 1-6 cm broad, solid, equal; flesh tough, white, developing similar colors as the cap; veil sheathing from the base, thick, white, forming a cottony annulus.

• Spores

  Spores 5-7 X 4.5-5.5 µm, subglobose to short elliptical, non-amyloid, smooth. Spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered to gregarious in soil or duff under tanbark oak, madrone and pine; from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Edible and highly prized by many for its large size and fragrant aroma. Some eat it raw in salads, while others prefer it cooked.

• Comments

  Called Armillaria ponderosa in older field guides, Tricholoma magnivelare is recognized by its large size, white color which bruises orange-brown, a sheathing cottony veil, and spicy odor. It occurs more commonly in the Pacific Northwest, where it is harvested commercially, than in the S.F. Bay Area.

• References

  Shanks, Kris M. (1994). A Sytematic Study of Tricholoma in California. Masters Thesis, San Franciso State University: San Francisco, CA. 207 p.
  Shanks, Kris M. (1997). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 11. Tricholomataceae II. Tricholoma. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 54 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Smith, A.H. (1979). The stirps Caligata of Armillaria in North America. Sydowia Beih. 8: 368-377.
  Zeller, S.M. & Togashi, K. (1934). The American and Japanese Matsu-Takes. Mycologia 26: 544-558.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Tom Duffy: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Hugh Smith: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP) — The Matsutake is open spotting barely showing through the soil—even less so than this young button
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Eileen's Mushroom Mania: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Nathan Wilson: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month: Tricholoma magnivelare (D & CP)
  • Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Tricholoma magnivelare (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 191 (D & P), plate 37 (CP) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  • Arora (1991): p. 86 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 733 (D), plate 213 (CP) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  • McKenny et al.: p. 107 (D & CP) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  • Miller: sp. 106 (D & CP) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  • Phillips: p. 38 (CP), p. 39 (D) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  • Smith: sp. 102 (D & CP) [Armillaria ponderosa]
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)