Strobilurus esculentus

A species associated with cones of Picea, with a convex to flattened cap, 1 to 3 cm in diameter, ochraceous-brown, free to narrowly adnate gills, white, a cylindrical, smooth, ochraceous stipe, with a pleasant fungal odour and sweet taste.

Cellular pileipellis composed of a layer of subglobose to pyriform hyphae, thick-walled, 20 to 35 µm long and 10 to 20 µm wide, and underneath these, repent hyphae arranged more or less parallel, 7 to 16 µm wide, septate and with simple septa (clamps absent).

Caulocystidia abundant, subulate, slightly capitate, with a broad base, 30 to 50 µm long and a maximum width of 9 to 14 µm.

Cheilocystidia abundant, fusiform, thick-walled, 40 to 50 µm long, 10 to 12 µm wide, some with slight apical encrustations.

Pleurocystidia scattered, similar in morphology to cheilocystidia, 40 to 60 µm long, 10 to 16 µm wide, and in this case with abundant apical encrustations.

Lamellar trama regular or parallel.

Basidia cylindrical-clavate, 15 to 25 µm long, 3.5 to 5 µm wide, with a simple base (clamps absent), 4-spored.

Spores ellipsoidal, smooth, hyaline, thin-walled, with an eccentric apiculus at one end, 4.5 to 6.5 µm long, 2.8 to 4 µm wide, with subtle granular content inside, and inamyloid in Melzer's reagent.

Herbarium material available: JTP2668/25.