Hypsizygus tessulatus

Hypsizygus tessulatus (Bull.) Singer (illustrated 40% life size) Cap 5–15cm across, convex at first, becoming flatter and rather sunken; white to buff-yellow, creamy tan or rust-brown in the centre; moist, smooth, minutely hairy, becoming cracked with scaly patches. Stem 40–110×10–30mm, off-centre, enlarged towards the base; white; dry, smooth, sometimes hairy, solid. Flesh white; thick, firm; taste mild, smell mushroomy. Gills adnexed to sinuate, close to subdistant, broad; whitish, becoming cream. Spores 5–7×5–7¼, globose, smooth. Spore print white to buff. Habitat singly or scattered on old hardwood trees, especially elm, often quite high up; autumn to winter. Very rare. Edible but tough.