Hygrophorus penarius (Matt Woodwax)

Hygrophorus penarius

Deciduous forests, especially oak woods with hornbeam and linden, parks. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies fleshy, medium-sized. Cap 4-8 (12) cm across, domed, later convex, flattened, with a blunt umbo, fleshy, whitish, when old yellowish, ivory-coloured. Gills distant, thick, white, decurrent. Stem 3-6 (8)x1-2 cm, tapering at the base, white, cream, with white fibrils and dots near the gills. Flesh white, firm, without a particular smell, pleasant in taste. Characteristic features: massive white, cream-coloured fruiting bodies, appearing only in deciduous forests, fond of calcareous oak woods. Grows singly or a few fruiting bodies together, likes more open, unshaded places. Warmth-loving. Rare. Edible. Protected.