Hebeloma gigaspermum is a European species of mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae.

The species Hebeloma gigaspermum was first described only in 1981 and is externally similar to the much better known Hebeloma sacchariolens (being placed in subsection Sacchariolentia of the genus). It is not uncommon in Northern Europe and until 1981 examples were probably simply considered to be H. sacchariolens.

Hebeloma gigaspermum

Like the latter it is a nondescript clay brown or ochre mushroom with somewhat viscid cap, up to about in diameter, and has a strong sweet odour which has been likened to orange blossom or amyl acetate. It is distinguished from H. sacchariolens by its ecology with willow and alder in boggy ground (as opposed to forests and gardens with broad-leaved trees in general), and its large spore size of 13–17 × 7–9 μm (as opposed to 11–14 × 6–8 μm).

Hebeloma gigaspermum

The name gigaspermum means "giant-spored".

Hebeloma gigaspermum

The edibility of the mushroom is not known for certain, but Hebeloma contains poisonous species and it is not to be recommended for culinary use.

References

gigaspermum

Fungi of Europe

Fungi described in 1981