How to tell Charbonnier from Tiger tricholoma

Cap 5-12 cm across, when young bell-shaped or convex-conical, becoming with age flat-convex with a low, broad bump in the center. The skin is smooth, slightly slimy in wet weather, dry and matte in dry weather. Color: gray-violet, gray-greenish, olive-gray, darker in the center, with distinct fine dark radial fibrous streaks — a diagnostic feature. The margin is even, slightly wavy in old caps, inrolled in young ones.

The cap is 8-15 cm across (sometimes up to 20 cm), very fleshy, heavy; when young it is hemispherical with an inrolled margin, with age becoming broadly convex, flat and spread out. The skin is matte, with distinct dark gray scales on a grayish-white background — a characteristic "leopard" pattern of concentric rows of scales, especially noticeable at the center. The background color is grayish white to pale ash gray, the scales are dark gray to blackish gray. The margin is even, slightly wavy in old specimens.

Gilled hymenophore — the gills are notched (sinuate) where they attach to the stem, moderately crowded, fleshy. When young they are whitish with a faint yellowish tinge, becoming with age creamy-yellowish, especially toward the edge. The yellowish tone of the gills is a diagnostic feature. Spore print white.

Lamellate hymenophore: the gills are notched (emarginate) at the stem, moderately crowded, very fleshy, thick. Color: white to creamy white, with no yellowish tint — this is the key difference from the edible T. portentosum. Spore print white.

Stem 5-10 cm tall, 1.5-2.5 cm thick, firm, fleshy, cylindrical. Color: whitish with a characteristic yellowish tinge, especially toward the base. Surface smooth with fine lengthwise fibers. No ring.

The stem is 6-12 cm tall, 2-4 cm thick, very fleshy, cylindrical, thickening toward the base, with a slight bulbous swelling in old specimens. Color: white to grayish white, often with ochre-brown spots or dots in the lower part. Surface: smooth, with lengthwise fibers in the lower third. No ring.

Flesh firm, white in the cap, white with a yellowish tinge in the stem. Does not change color when cut — it does not turn pink (unlike T. saponaceum) and does not darken. Smell distinctly mealy-cucumber, taste mild, pleasantly mushroomy with a hint of flour, no bitterness.

The flesh is very firm, fleshy, white to cream, does not change color when cut (does not turn pink or darken). Smell: distinctly mealy; taste mild at first, then bitterish and astringent — but the taste is no warning sign: you can eat this mushroom without noticing any bitterness.

A distinct, pleasant mealy-cucumber smell — like freshly ground flour with a note of fresh cucumbers. A diagnostic feature, clear when you cut it.

A distinct mealy smell, as in many knights — is NOT a warning sign!