Gomphidius smithii

Description

Gomphidius smithii is an edible mushroom in the family Gomphidiaceae that is found in the Pacific Northwest in North America. It is a common species, especially in young Douglas Fir forests of the Pacific Northwest and northern California. This mushroom has a brownish stem base, a solitary to scattered growth preference, and a fairly small, dull brownish lilac cap.

Common names: Smith's Gomphidius.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   3–5 cm wide; convex, becoming broadly convex; bald; slimy; dull brownish lilac; the margin sometimes with a blackish line.

2. Gills

   Running down the stem; close; whitish at first, becoming dark gray; short-gills frequent.

3. Stem

   4–7 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide; tapering to base; slightly rooting; with a glutinous slime veil above a fibrillose veil, sheathing all but the upper portion; upper edge of slime veil turning dark gray as spores mature and fall from the gills, sometimes creating an almost ring-like appearance; whitish above; brownish to lilac brown below; discoloring blackish; sometimes very slightly yellowish toward the base in old age.

4. Flesh

   White in the cap; pinkish to dirty yellowish or brownish in the stem.

5. Odor and Taste

   Not distinctive.

6. Spore Print

   Dark gray to nearly black.

7. Microscopic Features

   Spores 15–20 x 5–7 µm; subfusiform; smooth; brownish to brown in KOH. Basidia 4-sterigmate. Pleurocystidia 70–100 x 15–20 µm; subutriform; smooth; thin-walled; hyaline in KOH. Cheilocystidia 70–110 x 15–20 µm; widely cylindric to subutriform; smooth; walls under 1 µm thick; hyaline in KOH. Pileipellis is a poorly defined ixocutis; hyphae 5–12 µm wide, encrusted, brown in KOH. Clamp connections not found.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: wildaz (Public Domain)

Photo 2 - Author: wildaz (Public Domain)

Photo 3 - Author: giantcicada (CC BY 4.0)