Tapinella atromentosa

Tapinella atromentosa (Batsch) Šutara syn. Paxillus atrotomentosus (Batsch) Pers. (illustrated (d) 50% life size) Cap 12–28cm across, depressed at the centre, the margin inrolled; sepia or walnut-brown with sienna patches; slightly downy. Stem 30–90×20–50mm, sometimes lateral, rooting; covered in fine, olivaceous-buff down at first, becoming dark brown and more coarse and velvety with age. Flesh cream in cap, ochre or buff in stem; taste and smell not distinctive. Gills crowded, joining into vein-like network near stem. Spores 5–6.5×3–4.5¼, ellipsoid. Spore print sienna. Habitat tufted on stumps of conifers, causing brown rot in the wood; late summer to autumn. Frequent. Suspect avoid. Note this fungus is better known by the name Paxillus atrotomentosa. Field photograph (c) taken by Geoffrey Kibby.