Midnight Entoloma
(Entoloma bloxami, Entoloma madidum)
Our largest Entoloma boasting caps up to 15 cm is uncommon but not rare in the western lowlands. It is a striking species that grows scattered, singly or in small groups beneath both conifers and hardwoods. It is much more common further south in California. Caps are sticky when wet, deep blue to purple blue to nearly black, especially towards the margins. It is usually broadly umbonate and may show wrinkling marginally. The gills are close to crowded, notched to nearly free and whitish when young. With spore maturation they turn pinkish. Short gills are numerous. The stipe is up to 12 cm tall and 3cm across, equal to tapering downward, and silky to finely striate. They are buish superiorly but whitish below and may show yellowish orange tints in age. The odor is mild to somewhat farinaceous. Its edibility is well-established.