Species details
Burnt knight
Tricholoma ustale
Inedible
Photo: Adrien BENOIT à la GUILLAUME · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source · License
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Description
A brown Tricholoma of deciduous woods that darkens strongly with age as if scorched; bitterness and possible gastrointestinal effects make it unsuitable for food.
Identification features
The cap is smooth, chestnut to reddish brown and may become almost black when old. Gills start pale and later develop brown spotting. The stem is paler above and brown toward the base.
Identification checklist
Check the smooth brown cap, progressive blackening of older parts and brown spotting on the gills. Always compare several brown Tricholoma species.
How to separate similar species
Similar brown Tricholoma include species capable of causing gastrointestinal poisoning. Cap colour alone is not enough.
Habitat
Grows mainly with beech and other broadleaved trees, from late summer to late autumn.
Fruiting period
August, September, October, November