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    Dark-scaled knight

    Tricholoma atrosquamosum Sacc. · Tricholomataceae

    Edible with cautionRisk of confusion: medium

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Dark-scaled knight
    Photo: Zaca · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    The dark-scaled knight is a grey, sombre-looking knight with black scales on the cap, a white stem and white gills. It smells of meal with a peppery note and is quite rare.

    SeasonJuly to November
    Spore printwhite
    FamilyTricholomataceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 4 to 8 cm wide, grey with fine blackish scales.
    2. Underside. The gills are white to grey and may turn red.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is white and finely scaly. There is no ring and no volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It smells of meal with a peppery note. Do not taste grey knights.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white and does not change colour.

    Lookalikes

    Collecting it is discouraged, because grey-capped knights are easily confused with the poisonous spotted tricholoma.

    Habitat & Season

    Rather calcareous soils. From lowland to mountain regions.

    Host trees

    Broadleaved and coniferous trees.

    Season

    possible good main season

    Mushroom regions with a daily forecast

    There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.

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    Chance near you

    How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.

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    Safety

    Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. For experienced foragers only: follow the restrictions, and if in doubt, do not eat it.

    Advice for your country

    United Kingdom

    Poison centre:

    NHS 111 (England)111

    Emergency: 999 · 112

    Ireland

    Poison centre:

    National Poisons Information Centre (public line)(01) 809 2166

    Emergency: 112 · 999

    Germany

    Poison centre:

    Giftnotruf Berlin030 19240Giftinformationszentrum München089 19240GIZ-Nord Göttingen0551 19240

    Emergency: 112

    Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).

    Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.

    Austria

    Poison centre:

    Vergiftungsinformationszentrale (VIZ)01 406 43 43

    Emergency: 112 · 144

    Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.

    Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.

    Conservation and collecting rules

    Not specially protected.

    No species-specific rule known.

    Red List Germany: Near threatened

    In the kitchen

    We advise against collecting it. Cook thoroughly.

    Not recommended. Risk of confusion with the spotted tricholoma. Near-threatened list; spare it.

    Frequently asked questions

    Dark-scaled knight: is it edible?

    Only with restrictions. Collecting it is discouraged, because grey-capped knights are easily confused with the poisonous spotted tricholoma. Cook thoroughly.

    Dark-scaled knight: when and where does it grow?

    The season in central Europe runs from July to November. Tree partner and habitat: Broadleaved and coniferous trees. Soil: Rather calcareous soils. Altitude: From lowland to mountain regions.

    Dark-scaled knight: what are the lookalikes?

    The most important distinction is from Spotted tricholoma (Tricholoma pardinum, poisonous): It is larger and sturdier, with roof-tile-like scales on a pale ground. Other lookalikes: grey knight.

    Related species

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    Sources

    Photo credits

    No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.

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