Lyophyllum
These images depict one of the Lyophyllum decastes group turned up in Crested Butte this August. It grows under aspen and is considered a good edible by the locals. The smell is something between chestnuts and brandy. I was reminded of the big polypores that grow on the trees in southern Italy, and the marvelous meaty flavor of them. I have also used L. decastes in Hungarian Mushroom Soup. It is wonderful.
Another Lyophyllum decastes image.
This is the other Lyophyllum species that turned up in Colorado. These were invariably covered with sand. The gills consistently grayish, and their aroma not all that appealing. I don't think anyone dared to try them, so that says something.
Lyophyllum semitale is a name I use on these white gilled, white spored, black staining mushrooms. It turns up in 2 morphs in Colorado and northwestern Montana. There are probably 3 species in this group that I see in the northern US Rockies.
Lyophyllum connatum
