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Species Information
Summary: Cuphophyllus borealis is characterized by 1) its white color, perhaps sometimes with pale yellow disc, 2) a moist to lubricous but not viscid cap, 3) decurrent, subdistant to distant, white gills, and 4) a slender, dry stem. Smith & Hesler also describe a forma salmoneus from a collection flushed with pinkish orange on one side.
The type variety was examined from WA, OR, ID, CA, MA, ME, MI, NC, NY, PA, TN, WY, and Canada, and it has also been found in Mexico and Jamaica, (Hesler(1)). There are collections from BC at the University of British Columbia. Forma salmoneus was described from NC.
Gills: arcuate, becoming decurrent, subdistant to distant, generally narrow, broadest next to stem, interveined; white; edges even, (Hesler), "usually decurrent, well-spaced, thick, soft, somewhat waxy; white", (Arora), with three to four tiers of subgills, (Bessette)
Stem: 2-9cm x 0.2-0.8cm, equal or narrowing downward, firm, straight or flexuous [wavy], stuffed; dull white; dry, bald or rarely innately silky, (Hesler), 2-9cm x 0.2-0.5(0.8)cm, equal or narrowing downward, firm, often curved or sinuous; white; dry, smooth, (Arora)
Veil: absent (Arora)
Odor: not distinctive (Hesler), mild (Arora)
Taste: not distinctive (Hesler)
Microscopic spores: spores 7-9(12) x 4.5-6.5 microns, elliptic, smooth, (Arora, Hesler), inamyloid; basidia 2-spored and 4-spored, 40-56 x 6-8 microns; pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia absent; gill tissue interwoven; clamp connections present on cuticular hyphae, (Hesler), spores 6.0-9.0 x 4.5-6.0 microns, (Largent)
Spore deposit: white (Arora)
Habitat / Range
on soil in deciduous and coniferous woods, August to December, (Hesler), scattered or in groups "on ground and humus in woods or at their edges", (Arora), summer, fall, winter
Similar Species
Cuphophyllus niveus has thinner flesh and a more depressed cap which is viscid, (Bessette). Cuphophyllus virgineus has a similar, often drier cap but spores are longer (9-12 x 5.5-7.0 microns), (Largent, but note that Hesler''s spore measurements (8-10(12) x 5-7 microns) do not differ by as much). The cap of C. virgineus becomes yellowish at least in the center, (Stuntz(4), but note that Largent(4) says cap of C. borealis becomes pale yellowish white when old, and Bessette(1) says the cap is typically pale yellow to tan over disc). C. virgineus is separated in the Hesler(1) key by having moist to dry cap (viscid to lubricous for C. borealis and C. nivea) but their description of C. borealis says "moist, somewhat lubricous at times" and of C. virgineus "at first moist, later dry" which hardly supports a clear differentiation. Hygrophorus piceae has a viscid cap (Hesler). Hygrophorus eburneus has a slimy cap and stem. Cuphophyllus russocoriaceus has a cedar-like odor and a distinct medicinal taste.
