Tricholomopsis rutilans

Pileus
Cap 3-12 cm broad, convex to plane, ground color yellow overlaid with dark red to purplish-red fibrils, dry, margin smooth, entire.

Lamellae
Gills adnate to notched, close, yellow to pale yellow.

Stipe
Stipe 2.5-10 cm long, 1-2.5 cm broad, typically round above, flattened below; smooth, dry, yellow with reddish to purplish-red fibrils; veil absent.

Spores
Spores 5-7 X 3-5 µm, elliptical, smooth. Spore print white.

Habitat
Solitary to clustered on conifer stumps and logs, occasionally on wood chips; from late fall to mid-winter.

Edibility
Edible, but mediocre.

Comments
With its large stature, reddish-purple cap and contrasting yellow gills, Tricholomopsis rutilans is one of our most handsome mushrooms. It fruits in conifer woods, but is infrequent in some years making finds all the more noteworthy. Despite its inviting appearance, Tricholomopsis rutilans has no redeeming culinary value.