Tricholoma

Tricholoma is a genus of fungus that contains a large number of fairly fleshy white-spored gilled mushrooms which are found worldwide generally growing in woodlands. These are ectomycorrhizal fungi, existing in a symbiotic relationship with various species of coniferous or broad-leaved trees. The generic name derives from Ancient Greek: τριχο-, romanized: tricho-, lit. 'hair' and Ancient Greek: λῶμα, romanized: loma, lit. 'fringe, border' although only a few species (such as T. vaccinum) have shaggy caps which fit this description. Some well-known species are the East Asian Tricholoma matsutake, also known as 'matsutake' or songi, and the North American species Tricholoma magnivelare, also known as 'ponderosa mushroom', 'American matsutake', or 'pine mushroom'. Some are safe to eat, yet there are a few poisonous members, such as T. pardinum, T. tigrinum and T. equestre. Many species originally described within Tricholoma have since been moved to other genera. These include the Wood blewit (Clitocybe nuda), previously Tricholoma nudum, blewit (Clitocybe saeva), previously Tricholoma personatum, and St George's mushroom (Calocybe gambosa) previously Tricholoma gambosum.