The Miller

Habitat

This species is found on the ground in forest duff, humus, or grassy areas within open woodlands and forests. It inhabits both hardwood and coniferous settings, including coastal pine, fir-hemlock, and spruce stands. It frequently fruits in close proximity to or directly in the same spot as boletes, particularly King Boletes (Porcini), and is suspected of having a parasitic or symbiotic relationship with them. While typically found in wooded areas, it can also occur in grass near trees, though it does not grow in rings.

Photos

Appearance

Cap

3–10 cm wide; first convex, then flattening or becoming irregularly depressed and wavy; typically white to pale gray, grayish tan, or cream; dry, with a distinctive texture like soft kid leather or chamois cloth; often covered in a dusty white bloom when young.

Stem

2–8 cm long, 0.4–2 cm thick; often positioned off-center; white to dingy gray, matching the cap; equal or tapering toward the base; surface may be smooth or finely downy, sometimes with a white fuzzy base.

Gills

Decurrent and crowded; initially white or pallid, gradually maturing to a fleshy pink or pinkish tan.

Flesh

White and unchanging; soft, fragile, and fibrillose.

Spore print

Pink, salmon-pink, or dingy pinkish tan.

Odor and Taste

Strongly farinaceous, resembling the smell of fresh flour, wet dough, or cucumber rind.

Edibility

Extreme caution is required as this mushroom is easily confused with the deadly Fool's Funnel (Clitocybe rivulosa/dealbata), which also has a mealy smell but produces a white or pale buff spore print and typically grows in rings on grass. Other toxic lookalikes include the Frosty Funnel, the White Fibrecap, and Livid Pinkgills. It is distinguished by its strong mealy scent resembling wet flour or cucumber, its fragile texture, and its longitudinally ridged pink spores. This species is often found near King Boletes and retains its mealy flavor and firm texture when cooked, though the odor diminishes during preparation.

Nutrient Source

It obtains nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter in soil and leaf litter.

Common Names

Basque

errotari, moixernó blanc

Catalan

moixernó blanc

Dutch

Grote molenaar

English

The Miller, Miller

Finnish

jauhosieni

French

Garde-cèpe, Langue de carpe, Clitopile pruineux, Clitopile petite prune, Meunier, Mère de cèpe

German

Mehlräsling

Norwegian Bokmål

melsopp

Norwegian Nynorsk

mjølsopp

Spanish

harinera, Molinera, mojardon, mucerón, mojardón, bujardón

Swedish

gråvit mjölskivling, Mjölskivling

Welsh

Cap Melinydd

Synonyms

• Agaricus orcella
• Agaricus prunulus
• Clitopilus orcella
• Hexajuga orcella
• Hexajuga prunula
• Hyporrhodius orcella
• Hyporrhodius prunulus
• Omphalia prunula
• Orcella prunulus
• Paxillopsis prunulus
• Paxillus prunulus
• Paxillus prunulus
• Paxillus prunulus
• Pleuropus orcellus
• Pleuropus prunulus
• Pleurotus prunulus
• Rhodosporus prunulus