Clitopilus prunulus Mycological characteristicsgills on hymeniumcap is convexhymenium is decurrentstipe is barespore print is pinkecology is saprotrophicedibility: choiceClitopilus prunulus, commonly known as the miller or the sweetbread mushroom,^[1] is an edible pink-spored basidiomycete mushroom found in grasslands in Europe and North America. Growing Solitary to gregarious in open areas of conifer/hardwood forests; common under Bishop pine (Pinus muricata) along the coast north of San Francisco; fruiting shortly after the fall rains. It has a grey to white cap and decurrent gills.

Description[edit]

The cap is initially convex when young, but in maturity flattens out, usually with a shallow central depression. It is white or light gray or yellow, sticky when moist, and 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) in diameter with a characteristic feel to the touch of chamois skin. The gills are decurrent in attachment to the stipe, spaced together rather closely, and whitish, although they often develop a pinkish hue in age. The stipe is 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) long x 4–15 mm thick, and white. This mushroom has a mealy odor, somewhat like cucumber.^[2] The spore print is pink. Spores are 9–12 x 5–6.5 µm.^[3]C. prunulus may be found growing on the ground in hardwood and coniferous woods in the summer and fall.

The variant C. prunulus var. orcellus has a slimy cap and white colors.

Volatile compounds[edit]

The cucumber odor of this species has been attributed to trans-2-nonenal, which is present at a concentration of 17 µg per gram of crushed tissue.^[2]C. prunulus contains the volatile compound 1-octen-3-ol, making it unpalatable to the coastal Pacific Northwest banana slug, Ariolimax columbianus.^[4]

Similar looking species[edit]

The poisonous Clitocybe rivulosa (Fool's Funnel). The Miller has pink spores whereas Fools Funnel are white, the gills of the miller are more easily pulled away, and the Miller smells of raw pastry. The Miller also prefers woodland whereas Fools Funnel is a grassland species.^[5]

References[edit]