Tubaria furfuracea

Morphological Features:

Pileus with an approximate average diameter of about 2 cm, reaching at most 4 cm. Initially hemispherical, later convex, and finally nearly plane. Predominantly ochre in color, slightly reddish in the central zone, fading distinctly toward the margin. In youth, when rain has not washed away some of its features, it bears whitish fibers arranged concentrically near the margin, which may also show remnants of the veil in the form of small fringes.

Lamellae generally adnate, sometimes slightly decurrent, with lamellulae and ochraceous in color. Relatively crowded and somewhat unequal at times.

Stipe rather elongated and hollow, notably fibrillose to floccose, but entirely lacking an annular zone. Similar in color to the pileus or slightly more flesh-toned, with the upper third being more pruinose than the remainder; the base or mycelial attachment is whitish.

Flesh scant and rather soft, ochre in color; odor faint and taste equally mild.

Habitat:

This is a species that fruits with relative frequency during summer, and also throughout autumn. It generally appears to grow on the ground, but careful extraction reveals that it actually emerges from various buried woody debris, both broadleaf and conifer wood.

Observations:

Differences among the various species of the genus Tubaria are sometimes subtle, but despite their resemblance, they do exhibit certain macroscopic distinctions. Tubaria hiemalis, which is more winter-fruiting, bears a notable resemblance; however, upon closer inspection, its veil remnants are not whitish but ochre-brown. Some authors consider both species synonymous, a point that requires verification. Tubaria conspersa is more readily distinguished by its highly floccose pileus. Microscopic differences are partly defined by the varying shapes of the cystidia.