Brown Rollrim

Paxillus involutus

Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests, bogs, parks, gardens. Summer, autumn.

Medium-sized, rarely large fungi. Cap grows up to 12 cm across, more rarely larger, matt, velvety, yellowish-greenish-brownish. Gills yellowish, greenish-yellowish, old ones dirty brown. Stem 4-8x1-2 cm, slightly paler than the cap. Flesh yellowish, later brownish-brown, turning brown when broken or cut. Characteristic features: tough, soft, attractive-looking fungi. Grows in larger or smaller groups, very common. It used to be considered edible, but over the last two or three decades it has been recognised as poisonous in many European countries; it has been found to contain lead, muscarine and strontium, which are harmful to human health. Well boiled it is less poisonous, but it is suitable neither for salting nor for pickling, so this fungus should not be abused.