Edible, therapeutic and toxic mushrooms
17
MATSUTAKE
Tricholoma matsutake, Tricholoma magnivelare
Frequency
Plentiful
Habitat
In the boreal forest, Pine Mushrooms are found in jack pine stands more than 60 years old. They are occasionally found in southern Quebec, always associated with pine and less frequently with hemlock. Pine Mushrooms are an important source of food, not only for insects, but for mice, voles, hares, and caribou.
Cap
Convex at first and then spread out, smooth, of pale beige color.
Margin
Inrolled at first and then spread out, even.
Gills
White, close together, not decurrent, brownish when at maturity.
Stalk
Equal, tappering at the base, pure white above the annulus and tinted brownish under, grey at the base.
Flesh
White, immutable.
Unfit for human consumption
As soon as the gills turn brown, the fruitbodies lost their quality. When intense fall frost change the flesh to water, the fruitbodies are unfit for consumption and must remain in the field.
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For the Japanese market, this mushroom is classified according to six categories, all of which require that the stem be intact. For the North American market, the mushroom is classified according to three categories: buttons, whole fruit bodies (with open caps) and caps. Matsutake in eastern Canada is different from Matsutake gathered on the west coast and is very similar to Tricholoma matsutake picked in Japan.
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