Deer Mushroom
Pluteus cervinus
Identification suggests Pluteus cervinus; high risk of confusion with toxic lookalikes.
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All Images (3)
Key Features
- Cap large
- grayish-tan
- radially fibrillose/streaked
- Gills dark chocolate brown
- free from the stem
- Stem pale
- lacks both an annulus (ring) and a volva
- Growing terrestrially
- likely attached to buried wood or deep litter
Color:
Grayish-tan cap, dark brown gills, whitish stem
Smell:
Unknown
Growth Pattern:
Single
Environment:
Leaf litter/buried wood
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Wooded area, mixed deciduous and coniferous litter
Distribution:
Widespread across North America and Europe
Seasonality:
Spring through Autumn
Critical Features for Confirmation
- Spore color (pink) is critical for Pluteus confirmation and is unverified
- Exact substrate (buried wood vs. true soil) is unclear
Economic Value
Market Demand:
Low - occasionally foraged, not commercially cultivated
Price Range:
N/A
Commercial Use:
None
Similar Species
Livid Entoloma
Entoloma sinuatum
Key Differences:
- Gills start yellowish-white, turning salmon pink (not dark brown)
- Gills are typically sinuate (not completely free)
Yellow-staining Mushroom
Agaricus xanthodermus
Key Differences:
- Usually has a prominent ring (annulus)
- Flesh stains bright yellow when bruised, especially at stem base
Recommended Action
Do not consume. Obtain a spore print (must be pink) for definitive identification.