Tricholoma robustum is an edible mycorrhizal mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae. In Japan it is called matsutake-modoki (pseudo-matsutake), and colloquially referred to as obasan no matsutake ("old lady's matsutake"), because it resembles matsutake mushroom while being smaller and less aromatic.
Description Resembles matsutake, but the fruiting bodies are much smaller in size. The cap is 4–10 cm, convex or flat of uneven reddish-brown color, with small, often upright scales. The gills are white, then dirty pink, red speckled. The stipe reaches 6–8 cm in length and 1.5-2.5 cm in thickness, with a narrow ring, white at the top, the color of a hat under the ring. The flesh is dense, white at first, slightly pink when cut, then red, stains brown and blackens when cooked. It has a strong smell of fresh flour. Spores ellipsoidal 6-7 x 3.5-4 μm, smooth.
Distribution and habitat It is distributed throughout the northern hemisphere (including Polesia and forest steppes of Ukraine), especially in the northern temperate zone. It is an ectomycorrhizal fungus found in coniferous forests, forming relationship with pine trees (especially Pinus densiflora), on sandy soils. It often grows in the same forests as matsutake, although it fruits later (August–October).
Edibility Edible mushroom. In Ukraine it is considered tasty and used fresh. In Japan it is considered to be mediocre in taste and smell, inferior to real matsutake.
References
Зерова М. Я., Єлін Ю. Я., Коз'яков С. М. Гриби: їстівні, умовно їстівні, неїстівні, отруйні. — Кyiv: Урожай, 1979. — p 134–135.
