CAP: (4-12 cm) wide, convex to broadly convex, occasionally nearly flat; surface dry, coarsely tomentose to floccose-scaly, buff or straw-colored to pale olive, or tan to yellowish, often with darker streaks, instantly blueing when bruised; flesh brittle, whitish to pale yellow, instantly staining dark lilaceous to indigo and finally deep blue when cut or bruised; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: white to yellowish or pale tan, instantly staining dark lilaceous to indigo when bruised; pores circular, 1-2 per mm.

STALK: (4-10 cm) long, (1-2.5 cm) thick, equal or swollen in the middle or below, brittle, stuffed with a soft pith, becoming hollow or developing several cavities in age; surface coarsely tomentose to fibrillose-scaly when young, often smoother in age, not reticulate, colored like the cap or paler, instantly blueing when cut or bruised; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: pale yellow.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 8-10 x 5-6 μm, elliptic, smooth, hyaline.

FRUITING: scattered or in groups among mosses or on sandy soil under birch and maple or in mixed woods; July-September; occasional.

EDIBILITY: edible.

COMMENTS: Gyroporus cyanescens (edible) is nearly identical, but the flesh stains greenish blue, then blue when cut. It grows in sandy soil in hardwoods, mixed woods, or along roadcuts.

From Mushrooms of Northeastern North America Alan E. Bessette, Arleen R. Bessette, & David W. Fischer  Copright © 1997 Syracuse University, ISBN 0-8156-0388-6