Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus (Fr.) Fr. Cap 3-1Ocm across, convex or knobbed becoming flatter; brown to black at the disc, paler ash gray toward margin; slimy and sticky, streaked with distinct, fine dark gray fibers beneath the pellicle. Gills adnate to decurrent, subdistant, moderately broad; white to ashy. Stem 80-140 x 10-30mm; white and smooth at the top above the ring, below the ring a double sheath which is very sticky on the outside with black fibers underneath; in age this breaks up into patches. Veil all over the cap and stalk, making it very slimy; partial veil is fibrous and black, leaving sheath on stem. Flesh soft; white. Odor not distinctive. Taste not distinctive. Spores ellipsoid, nonamyloid, 9-12 x 5-6µ. Deposit white. Habitat scattered or growing in dense tufts under conifers and redwood. Sometimes abundant. Found in Europe and widely distributed in northern North America. Season July-December. Edible with caution. |