How to tell Tricholoma orirubens from Tiger tricholoma

Cap 5-10 cm across, when young convex with an inrolled margin, becoming with age flat-convex with a small umbo. The cap skin is matte, with distinct fine black radially fibrous scales on a gray-white to gray-blackish background. The base color is gray-white to ash-gray, darker in the center. When pressed, or with age, it takes on a pinkish-red tint where touched — a diagnostic feature.

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 sinuately attached to the stem, moderately crowded, fleshy. When young — whitish, becoming with age cream-colored, with a distinct pinkish-red tint where damaged or touched. 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 5-8 cm tall, 1-2 cm thick, firm, cylindrical, thickening toward the base. Color whitish to grayish, with characteristic yellow-cream mycelium remnants at the stem base — a diagnostic feature. The surface is 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, turns pinkish-red 15-30 min after being damaged — a characteristic reaction. Smell distinctly mealy, taste mild, not bitter, with a subtle nutty note.

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 smell — like freshly ground flour.

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