About this fungus
Livid Pinkgill is a fungus in the Entolomataceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A large, solid woodland mushroom with an ivory, cream-grey or pale brown cap and a stout white stem. The young cap is rounded, often with a broad low boss, then expands and may develop a wavy or lobed edge. Its pale, substantial appearance overlaps with several mushrooms collected for food.
What to check
The crowded gills begin yellowish white, then become salmon pink or grey-pink as the spores mature. They meet the stem in a distinct notch rather than running down it. The stem has no ring, and a mature spore print is pink. Odour is variable, but is often described as vague, mealy, rancid or unpleasant. None of these features should be used alone.
Variation
The cap can range from almost white through grey and buff to pale brown, often darkening with age. Hot or dry weather can split the margin, while mature caps may become strongly wavy. Young gills can remain pale enough to hide the pink-spored character, so specimens at different stages can look quite unlike one another.
Lookalikes
The Miller can also develop pinkish gills and a pinkish spore print, so spore colour does not separate that lookalike by itself. The Miller is usually smaller and more fragile, with gills running down the stem and a strong mealy smell. Clouded Funnel has pale decurrent gills and a white spore print. St George's Mushroom keeps cream-coloured gills and usually fruits in spring. Agaricus species have a ring and their gills mature from pink to chocolate brown. Check several independent characters on every specimen.
Habitat and range
Usually found on the ground with deciduous trees, especially oak and beech, in woodland, parkland and grassy woodland edges. It favours base-rich clay or chalky soils and can occur singly, in groups or in broad arcs. Fruiting is mainly from summer into autumn, with occasional late-spring records.
Food safety
Poisonous. Serious or fatal poisoning has been reported.