Plums and Custard

Appearance

A striking and easily recognised fungus, Plums and Custard takes its common name from its plum-red scaled cap and crowded custard yellow gills. The flesh is cream-coloured and spore print creamy white. The base colour of the cap under the scales is yellow. The cap is convex and 4–10 cm across. The stipe is cylindrical and up to 10 cm tall with a red scaly base developing to a yellow colour towards the cap. It has no ring or volva.

Distribution

''Tricholomopsis rutilans'' can be found growing on tree stumps and logs in coniferous woodlands throughout the northern hemisphere, in places as diverse as Ireland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and North-West Russia, in late summer and autumn . It has also been found, probably accidentally introduced, in Australia and Costa Rica on introduced pine trees. A related species ''Tricholomopsis decora'' is also found in conifer woods but is golden in colour, much less common and found at higher altitudes.

Habitat

''Tricholomopsis rutilans'' can be found growing on tree stumps and logs in coniferous woodlands throughout the northern hemisphere, in places as diverse as Ireland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and North-West Russia, in late summer and autumn . It has also been found, probably accidentally introduced, in Australia and Costa Rica on introduced pine trees. A related species ''Tricholomopsis decora'' is also found in conifer woods but is golden in colour, much less common and found at higher altitudes.