Cystoderma fallax

Morphological Features:

Pileus small in size, rarely exceeding 5 cm in diameter; hemispherical in youth, later becoming convex and finally somewhat flattened. With a very dry and floccose appearance, it exhibits a quite striking color ranging from yellow with a tawny hue to more ochre or brownish tones, always maintaining a reddish center. It is usually not strongly umbo-nate, and the margin is most often serrate and undulate in a more or less conspicuous manner.

Lamellae adnate and relatively crowded, white in color, occasionally slightly tinged with pink.

Stipe proportional to the pileus size, bearing a membranous and persistent ring; below the ring it is covered with scales matching the pileus color, while the upper portion is smooth and more whitish.

Flesh soft and pinkish-ochre in the pileus, while that of the stipe is yellowish-brown. Its odor and taste are mild and insignificant.

Habitat:

A very uncommon autumnal species that prefers habitats among conifers, particularly in grassy and open woodland areas.

Observations:

Like all Cystoderma species, it is without culinary value. It bears a notable resemblance to Cystoderma amianthinum, particularly in its coloration, but it usually has a less ornamented stipe than the species described here, possesses an unpleasant odor, lacks a membranous ring, and furthermore, its spores are ellipsoid.