CAP: (3-9 cm) wide, rounded to convex, becoming broadly convex to nearly flat; surface dry, covered with tiny dark brown to black fibers when young, often fading to dark yellowish brown in age as the fibers erode, staining yellow in KOH; margin not rimmed with flaps of tissue, even when young; flesh white, staining pinkish to reddish, sometimes slowly, when cut and rubbed, especially at the juncture of the cap and stalk, not darkening to purple-gray or black, staining blue in FeSO₄; odor and taste not distinctive.

PORE SURFACE: whitish when young, becoming grayish to dingy grayish brown in age, not blueing when cut or bruised but sometimes staining yellowish or brownish; pores circular, 2-3 per mm.

STALK: (4-11 cm) long, (1-2 cm) thick, nearly equal or enlarging slightly downward, solid, whitish beneath gray to black scabers, not reticulate, often with blue-green stains on the lower portion; stalk flesh typically staining blue-green, at least near the base, and often reddish above; partial veil and ring absent.

SPORE PRINT: brown.

MICROSCOPIC FEATURES: spores 16-22 x 5-7.5 μm, fusoid, smooth, pale brown.

FRUITING: scattered or in groups on the ground in mixed hardwoods, especially under yellow birch; July-October; fairly common.

EDIBILITY: edible.

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