T. eques´tre Linn.—equestre, belonging to a horseman or knight, from distinguished appearance. Pileus fleshy, compact, convex becoming expanded, obtuse, pale-yellowish, more or less reddish tinged, the disk and central scales often darker, the margin naked, often wavy. Flesh white or tinged with yellow. Gills rounded behind, close, nearly free, sulphur-yellow. Stem stout, solid, pale-yellow or white, white within. Spores 6.5–8×4–5µ.
Pileus 3–5 in. broad. Stem 1–2 in. long, 6–10 lines thick.
Pine woods, especially in sandy soil. Albany county. September to November.
This is a noble species but not plentiful in our state (N.Y.). The pileus is said to become greenish very late in the season. The stem, in the typical form, is described as sulphur-yellow in color, but with us it is more often white. The scales of the disk are sometimes wanting. In our plant the taste is slightly farinaceous at first, but it is soon unpleasant.
Var. pinastreti A. and S. is a slender form having a thin, even pileus, thinner and more narrow gills and a more slender stem. A. crassus Scop., A. aureus Schaeff., and A. flavovirens Pers. are recorded as synonyms of this species. Peck, 44th Rep. N.Y. State Bot.
Professor Peck later says in “Mushrooms and Their Use,” p. 52: “I confidently add it to the list of edible species.”
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In pine forests and groves. September to frost. McIlvaine.
I have eaten it since 1883. All disagreeable odor about T. equestre (which I have seldom noticed) disappears upon cooking. The substance is rather tough, but good.
T. coryphæ´um Fr.—chief, leader. From its distinguished appearance. Pileus very fleshy but not compact, convex then plane, obtuse, viscid, yellowish, streaked with small brownish scales. Stem solid, attenuated upward. Gills emarginate, crowded, white, edge yellow.
Large and of striking appearance. In shady beech woods.