Entoloma aprile

Morphological Features:

Pileus of medium size, between 5 and 10 cm, initially hemispherical to campanulate, then convex and finally flattened, but retaining a somewhat obtuse umbo at the center. The color is grayish-brown, with a smooth or slightly striate cuticle, glossy and slightly viscid in rainy weather. The margin is usually radially striate due to translucency resulting from its hygrophanous nature.

Lamellae moderately spaced, gray when young, later turning pinkish due to the spore deposit, evenly adnexed around the stipe. Sometimes serrulate.

Stipe cylindrical and central, striate with gray fibrils on a whitish background, giving it a fibrillose appearance; sometimes curved.

Flesh white or slightly grayish, rather thin and not very thick, with a mild farinaceous odor and a sweet taste.

Habitat:

An eminently spring species that typically fruits from April onwards among grass. Frequently found under elms, though not exclusively.

Observations:

This spring mushroom constitutes a good edible despite not being particularly fleshy. Its collection is reserved for experts, as it presents considerable identification challenges, and its resemblance to toxic species is notable. However, the most similar species is the choice edible Entoloma clypeatum, whose lamellae exhibit a distinctive protuberance before reaching the stipe.