About Gomphidius smithii Singer
Gomphidius smithii Singer, the mushroom species described here, has a cap ranging from 1.5 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The cap shape progresses from rounded when young, to convex as it matures, and finally becomes flat at full growth. The cap surface is characteristically slimy. The stipe (stem) measures 4 to 7 centimeters long and 0.5 to 1 centimeter wide, and it bears a veil. Unlike most other species in the Gomphidius genus, the stipe base of G. smithii is not yellow. The gills are decurrent (running down the length of the stipe), white when young, and turn gray as the mushroom ages. The spore print produced by this species is dark gray, and sometimes appears almost black. In terms of habitat and ecology, Gomphidius smithii grows underneath Douglas fir trees. It forms an association with Suillus lakei, a mycorrhizal fungus that also associates with Douglas fir, and is likely parasitic on S. lakei. It may also grow in association with other species within the Suillus genus.
