Entoloma

Entoloma is a large genus of terrestrial pink-gilled mushrooms, with about 1000 species. They have a drab appearance, pink gills which are attached to the stem, a smooth thick cap, and angular spores. Most entolomas are saprobic. The best-known member of which is the livid agaric (Entoloma sinuatum) responsible for a number of poisonings over the years in Europe and North America, and Entoloma rhodopolium in Japan. Some southern hemisphere species found in Australia, Entoloma rodwayi and Entoloma viridomarginatum, and Entoloma hochstetteri from New Zealand, are very colourful, with caps of unusual shades of green and blue-green. Most entolomas are dull shades of olive, brown, or grey and some are mycorrhizal.

Etymology

The part ἐντός means "within, inside". The part "loma" is a noun-forming element derived from Greek λῶμ(α), "fringe, hem" and used in the botanical taxonomy for naming plants distinguished by having a fringe or hem or particular kind described by the initial part of the word. In the case of entoloma, the term refers to mushrooms with the hem turned inside.