Pholiota mutabilis

Foto © Marco Floriani - Maso Postel (Pergine Valsugana, TN), IX.1992

Pholiota mutabilis

(Schaeff. : Fr.) P. Kumm.

Pholiota mutabilis (also known as Kuehneromyces mutabilis) is an excellent edible mushroom, but not an easy one to identify. It is therefore recommended to avoid it unless there are no doubts at all with reagrds to its identity. It would be actually very dangerous to exchange this species with some Galerina (G. marginata and allies), which are known to contain deadly toxic amanitins (just like A. phalloides). A characteristic of this species is the very hygrophanous cap, which presents two distinctly coloured areas, at least when young. The stipe is decorated, under the ring, by many small, recurved scales, which constitute a very good hint for its identification. (m.f.)