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    Spotted tricholoma

    Tricholoma pardinum (Pers.) Quél. · Tricholomataceae

    Also: Tiger tricholoma, Tigertop, Leopard knight

    ☠ Poisonous

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    Identification in 5 steps

    Spotted tricholoma
    Photo: Ryane Snow · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    The spotted tricholoma is a large, sturdy knight with a pale grey cap covered in dark, overlapping scales. It grows on limestone under beeches, firs and spruces and is poisonous.

    SeasonAugust to October
    Spore printwhite
    FamilyTricholomataceae
    1. Cap. The cap is 5 to 15 cm wide, pale grey to silver-grey, with dark grey, concentrically arranged, tile-like scales.
    2. Underside. The gills are whitish to cream, often with a greenish-yellow tinge and watery droplets.
    3. Stem, ring and volva. The stem is sturdy, whitish, often ochre at the base. There is no ring or volva.
    4. Smell and taste. It smells of meal (flour). Do not taste it.
    5. Flesh and colour change. The flesh is white, firm and does not change colour.

    Lookalikes

    Causes severe, prolonged gastrointestinal poisoning; it is confused with the grey knights.

    Habitat & Season

    Limestone soils only. Mainly montane zones.

    Host trees

    Common beech, silver fir, spruce.

    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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    Safety

    Never eat a mushroom you have not identified with certainty. Poisonous mushroom: do not eat it. If you suspect you ate it, call the poison emergency line immediately.

    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.

    Salzburg: collecting poisonous mushrooms is banned.

    Red List Germany: Near threatened

    Poisoning

    ToxinUnknown toxin.
    SyndromeGastrointestinal syndrome.
    SymptomsSevere, often prolonged vomiting and diarrhoea; circulatory failure from fluid loss cannot be ruled out.
    OnsetAbout 15 minutes to 2 hours.
    What to do now: Call the poison centre immediately (NHS 111, England) and, in case of severe symptoms, the emergency number 999 / 112. Do not induce vomiting and do not give milk or salt water. Keep mushroom remains, trimmings and vomit for identification, and tell everyone who ate with you, as they should also be examined.

    Frequently asked questions

    Spotted tricholoma: Is it edible?

    No, it is poisonous. Causes severe, prolonged gastrointestinal poisoning; it is confused with the grey knights. If you suspect poisoning, call the poison centre immediately (numbers for your country below).

    Spotted tricholoma: When and where does it grow?

    In Central Europe the season runs from August to October. Partner and habitat: common beech, silver fir, spruce. Soil: limestone soils only. Altitude: mainly montane zones.

    Spotted tricholoma: What are its lookalikes?

    The most important one to rule out is the soapy knight (Tricholoma saponaceum, poisonous): it smells of soap and turns red at the stem base. Other lookalikes: grey knight, dark-scaled 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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