Volvariella bombycina

Silky rosegill

Developed fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body showing the pinkish gills on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body showing the pinkish gills on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body at the base of Turkey oak at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body at the base of Turkey oak at Hampstead Heath, UK.

Developed fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body showing the pinkish gills on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Developed fruit body showing the pinkish gills on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body on beech at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body at the base of Turkey oak at Hampstead Heath, UK.
Emerging fruit body at the base of Turkey oak at Hampstead Heath, UK.

Common name

Silky rosegill.

Often found on

Beech.

Sometimes found on

Other deciduous species including horse chestnut, maple, and oak.

Location

Found at the base of the host tree and along the main scaffold structure.

Description

Varied size. Begins as an encased fruit body within a mottled beige-white 'egg', which unfurls to form a splendid cream white cap with a silky finish. Gills begin white and become stained pink by the pink spore. The 'egg' remains in-tact at the base of the stipe.

Confused with

None.

Significance

Considered saprotrophic and associated with a white rot of the wood. It is unlikely that this species acts parasitically on the host tree.