Hygrophorus ligatus

A species associated with conifers, especially pines on calcareous soils, formerly known as Hygrophorus gliocyclus.

Pileipellis composed of densely interwoven filamentous hyphae, 2-5 µm wide, the uppermost branched and widely separated by gelification; beneath these lie more compacted, wider hyphae with faint brownish intracellular pigment and coarse clamp connections at the septa.

Differentiated cystidia absent.

Lamellar trama bilateral.

Basidia cylindric-clavate, 45-65 µm long and 6-8 µm wide, with basal clamps, 4-spored.

Spores ellipsoidal, smooth, hyaline, thin-walled, with an inconspicuous lateral apiculus at one end, one or more oil droplets inside, inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.