Cyclocybe aegerita, also calledAgrocybe cylindracea, Agrocybe aegerita or Pholiota aegerita,[1] is a mushroom in the genus Cyclocybe which is commonly known as the poplar fieldcap or poplar mushroom,[1] or velvet pioppini (simplified Chinese: 茶树菇; traditional Chinese: 茶樹菇; pinyin: chá shù gū; lit. 'Tea Tree Mushroom').[2] In Japan, it is called Yanagi-matsutake (柳松茸).[3]
Description
It belongs to the white rot fungi and is a medium-sized agaric having a very open and convex cap, almost flat, with a diameter of 3–10 centimetres (1–4 inches). Underneath, it has numerous whitish radial plates adherent to the foot, later turning to a brownish-grey colour, and light elliptic spores of 8–11 by 5–7 micrometres. The white fibre foot is generally curved, having a membranous ring on the top part which promptly turns to tobacco colour due to the falling spores.[1] When very young, its colour may be reddish-brown and later turn to a light brown colour, more ochre towards the centre, whiter around its border. It grows in tufts on logs and holes in poplars, and other large-leaved trees.[1]
The mushroom is a typical ingredient found in both Southern European and Chinese cuisine. In East Asia, it is used fresh and rehydrated in various dishes, including stir-fry, soup, stew, and hot pot.[2] It has a soft cap and a harder stem. Picking specimens from the wild is not recommended due to the difficulty of identification.[5]
