Armillaria caligata (Viv.) Gilbert syn. Tricholoma caligatum (Viv.) Ricken Cap 5-12cm across, broadly convex with margin sometimes uplifted in age and hung with veil remnants; creamish flesh showing beneath cinnamon-brown patches or scales; dry. Gills adnate, close, narrow to moderately broad; white, staining brownish with age. Stem 50-100x20-30mm; white above the ring, below cinnamon-brown zones and patches of veil remnants. Veil partial veil leaving membranous ring on the upper stem and brownish patches below. Odor fragrant, pleasant or foul, disgusting (see Comment). Taste slight, mild, or bitter (see Comment). Spores broadly ellipsoid, smooth, nonamyloid, 6-7.5 x 4.5-5.5µ. Deposit white. Habitat on the ground, sometimes in sandy soil, under hardwoods, particularly oak, in the East; under conifers in the West. Found in Europe and widely distributed in North America. Season July-November. Edible-excellent, much treasured in Japan. Comment Various forms of this mushroom exist. In Colorado and the West, found under spruce, it is usually fragrant and mild tasting; in the East, under hardwoods, I have found the foul, disgusting smelling variety with the bitter taste.