Habitat
This mushroom grows in dense, fused tufts at the base of deciduous tree trunks and stumps. It is particularly associated with oak and beech and is widespread across temperate regions of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, while acting as an introduced species in North America.
Photos
Appearance
- Cap
- 3–7cm wide, ranging from conical or convex to flatter with a broad central bump; dark reddish-brown and slightly sticky when wet, drying to a smoother pale tan or cream color.
- Stem
- 4–12cm long, distinctive for being twisted, grooved, and often flattened or swollen in the middle with a tapering root-like base; frequently fused together in dense clusters, colored pale tan at the top and darker brown toward the bottom.
- Gills
- Whitish to pinkish-brown, sometimes developing reddish-brown tints; spaced closely and either free or attached to the stem by a small downward tooth.
- Flesh
- Whitish to pale reddish-brown with a mild taste and faint odor.
- Spore print
- White.
Sporecast is better in the app
Plan ahead with 10-day forecasts, see what people are finding nearby, get photo IDs, and track your finds.
Edibility
The caps are often described as tasteless, and most consider the stem inedible because it is too tough and grooved. While some people regard the mushroom as a decent edible species, others find it lacks culinary value. The unique distorted and fused stems make it distinct from any similar-looking species.
Misidentification can be fatal. Never eat a mushroom unless you're 100% sure. This information may be inaccurate. Always consult multiple sources.
Nutrient Source
ParasiticIt causes root rot in trees, meaning it feeds on living tree roots, often leading to the tree's decline or death.
Common Names
- Danish
- Tenstokket fladhat
- Dutch
- spoelvoetcollybia, Spoelvoetcollybia
- English
- Spindle Shank, Spindleshank, Spindle Toughshank
- French
- Souchette, Collybie à pied en fuseau
- German
- Spindeliger Rübling
- Norwegian Bokmål
- stubbeflathatt
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- stubbeflathatt
- Swedish
- räfflad nagelskivling
- Welsh
- Coeswydn Gwerthyd
Synonyms
- Agaricus contortus
- Agaricus crassipes
- Agaricus daucipes
- Agaricus fusiformis
- Agaricus fusiformis
- Agaricus fusipes
- Agaricus illicinus
- Agaricus lancipes
- Agaricus oedematopus
- Agaricus oedipus
- Collybia contorta
- Collybia contorta
- Collybia crassipes
- Collybia crassipes
- Collybia fusipes — Spindle Toughshank
- Collybia illicina
- Collybia lancipes
- Collybia oedematopoda
- Hypophyllum fusipes
- Marasmius fusipes
- Marasmius fusipes
- Rhodocollybia fusipes