Entoloma hirtipes - Энтолома шершавоножковая - Rough-stemmed Entoloma - Rauhstieliger Rötling 6/11/17

Entoloma hirtipes, also known as the Rough-stemmed Entoloma or Rauhstieliger Rötling in German, is a small to medium-sized mushroom species belonging to the Entolomataceae family. The cap of this fungus measures 2 to 6 cm in diameter, with a convex to flat shape and a smooth surface. The cap color varies from pale gray to brownish-gray, often with a slightly darker center. The gills of Entoloma hirtipes are adnate (broadly attached to the stem) and white to pink in color. The stem is 3-10 cm tall and 0.5-1 cm thick, with a white to grayish color and a distinctly rough or fibrous texture, giving the species its common name. Entoloma hirtipes can be found in Europe and North America, primarily in deciduous and mixed forests. It grows on the ground or on decaying wood, particularly around beech and oak trees, from late summer to autumn. The chemistry of Entoloma hirtipes is not well studied, and its edibility remains uncertain. Due to its small size and potential toxicity, it is not considered a desirable edible mushroom. The spores of Entoloma hirtipes are pink, angular, and measure 7-11 x 5-8 micrometers. They are produced in basidia and are released into the environment for reproduction and dispersal. Although not a well-known species, Entoloma hirtipes is distinctive due to its rough-textured stem and pale gray to brownish-gray cap. It can serve as an indicator species for the health of forest ecosystems where it is found.