Grey Knight - Tricholoma terreum

The cap is convex to slightly umbonate, pale to dark grey. sometimes with bluish or purplish tints.  It is downy or with woolly scales.  The gills are pale grey but may develop yellowy tints as it ages. The stem is whitish to pale grey, sometimes with a fine veil but no ring, and without dark fibrils.    They are often found in groups associated with Pines and are rarely solitary.  They are without a distinctive smell.

Grey Tricholoma are difficult to identify.  Several other species (below) have been recorded in VC55; there are many other grey UK species.   

• Tricholoma scalpturatum (Yellowing Knight) stains yellow when bruised or rotting and has a rancid-mealy smell; frequently recorded in VC55 in broadleaved woodland
• Tricholoma cingulatum (Girdled Knight) has a well-defined ring; often recorded in VC55 and associated with Salix
• Tricholoma saponaceum (Soapy Knight) is greasy, olive-toned and has a distinct soapy smell; ocasionally recorded in VC55
• Tricholoma portentosum is sticky and has a yellow-flushed stem; occasionally recorded in VC55 with Pine, Beech and Spruce.  
• Tricholoma sciodes has gills with dark flecks or edges and is associated with Beech and broadleaved woodland; rarely recorded in VC55.
• Tricholoma virgatum (Ashen Knight) has gills with a finely toothed edge and a radish-like, hot or peppery smell/taste; rarely recorded in VC55; associated with Birch, Pine and Spruce

Photograph from top down, in side view and underneath to show gills and full length of stipe; note habitat and substrate.

Under conifers, typically Pine; rarely Beech

Autumn.

Common and widespread (Kibby, Vol.2; 2020)

Local in Leicestershire and Rutland.

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/tricholoma-terreum.php