Tricholoma equestre Yellow Knight

A sturdy, yellow knight that usually grows with conifers but also with birch and occasionally with oak. It is similar to Stinky Knight (Tricholoma sulphureum) but lacks the strong smell of that species and is much less common. Another source of confusion is Deceptive Knight (Tricholoma sejunctum), a scarce species which also has a yellowish fruiting body and a distinctive mealy smell, but there are no records of it in Glamorgan. Yellow Knight usually occurs late in the season, in December or January and often in clusters. It is largely a northern species, with most British records from Scotland. It is uncommon in Wales but there are a few scattered records in West Glamorgan, mostly from conifer plantations. The derivation of the specific name, equestre, is uncertain but perhaps related to the saddle-shaped cap which develops in older fruiting bodies. It is sometimes known as Man-on-horseback.