Kingdom Fungi Family Tricholomataceae Scientific name Tricholoma magnivelare Rank Species | Division Basidiomycota Genus Tricholoma Higher classification Tricholoma Order Agaricales | |
Similar Tricholoma, Tricholoma caligatum, Lobster mushroom, Amanita smithiana, Tricholoma vaccinum | ||
First pines of the year matsutake tricholoma magnivelare october 11 2010 mov
Tricholoma magnivelare is a gilled mushroom found in the Pacific Northwest of North America growing in coniferous woodland. These ectomycorrhizal fungi are typically edible species that exist in a symbiotic relationship with various species of pine. They belong to the genus Tricholoma, which includes the closely related East Asian songi or matsutake. T. magnivelare is also known as ponderosa mushroom, pine mushroom.
In recent years, globalization has made hunting for pine mushrooms popular among all types of people of British Columbia, where they are found under pine trees and often associated with deer trails. Local mushroom hunters sell their harvest daily to local depots, which rush them to airports. The mushrooms are then shipped fresh by air to Asia where demand is high and price at a premium.
Serious poisonings have resulted from confusion of this mushroom with Amanita smithiana.
