Tricholoma robustum

Tricholoma robustum is an edible mycorrhizal mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae.^[1] In Japan it is called matsutake-modoki (pseudo-matsutake), and colloquially referred to as obasan no matsutake ("old lady's matsutake"), because it resembles matsutake mushroom while being smaller and less aromatic and tasty.

Tricholoma robustum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Tricholomataceae
Genus:	Tricholoma
Species:	T. robustum
Binomial name
Tricholoma robustum (Alb. & Schwein.) Ricken 1915
Synonyms[1]
Agaricus robustus Alb. & Schwein. Armillaria robusta (Alb. & Schwein.) Gillet Armillaria robusta var. major Sacc. Armillaria robusta var. minor Sacc. Gyrophila robusta (Alb. & Schwein.) Quél. Mastoleucomyces robustus (Alb. & Schwein.) Kuntze

Tricholoma robustum Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is convex
	Hymenium is adnexed
	Stipe has a ring
	Ecology is mycorrhizal
	Edibility is edible

Description

Resembles matsutake, but the fruiting bodies are much smaller in size. The cap is 4–10 cm, convex or flat of uneven reddish-brown color, with small, often upright scales. The gills are white, then dirty pink, red speckled. The stipe reaches 6–8 cm in length and 1.5-2.5 cm in thickness, with a narrow ring, white at the top, the color of a hat under the ring. The flesh is dense, white at first, slightly pink when cut, then red, stains brown and blackens when cooked. It has a strong smell of fresh flour. Spores ellipsoidal 6-7 x 3.5-4 μm, smooth.

Distribution and habitat

It is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere (including Polesia and forest steppes of Ukraine), especially in the northern temperate zone. It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus found in coniferous forests, forming relationship with pine trees (especially Pinus densiflora), on sandy soils. It often grows in the same forests as matsutake, although it fruits later (August–October).

Edibility

Edible mushroom. In Ukraine it is considered tasty and used fresh. In Japan it is considered to be mediocre in taste and smell, inferior to real matsutake.