Tigertop

Tricholoma pardinum

Family: Tricholomataceae

Also called: Tigertop, Dirty Trich, Spotted Tricholoma

Tigertop (Tricholoma pardinum)
Photo:Eric Steinert(CC BY-SA 3.0)View original source →

Overview

Severe gastrointestinal poisoning — one of the most frequent serious mushroom poisonings in Europe. Pale grey cap with dark grey scales arranged in concentric zones, robust stout stem. Beech and conifer woods. Often mistaken for T. terreum (Grey Knight, edible) but much larger and stockier.

Edibility
Toxic
Rarity
uncommon
Trophic mode
mycorrhizal
Typical peak
Sep

Season

Aug–Oct — typical fruiting months: Aug, Sep, Oct.

Host trees & substrate

  • Mycorrhizal with beech
  • Mycorrhizal with Norway spruce

Toxic lookalikes

  • Grey Knight (Tricholoma terreum)caution

    Smaller, slenderer, smooth not scaly. Best avoided by beginners — the two are routinely confused.

Where it grows

See live fruiting predictions for Tigertop on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.