Cottonwood mushroom  (Tricholoma populinum)
Related to the matsutake, the cottonwood mushroom is of medium size with a rounded to flattened, buff-colored cap, growing alone or in clusters. The color can vary from light brown at the edges to reddish brown towards the center. The flesh is white or pale yellowish, but staining reddish brown when bruised. It also has a pleasant, but distinctive, odor. The gills are white and notched near the stem. As their name suggests, their habitat is the sandy soil under cottonwood trees and are often hidden by sand and leaves. They can be detected only by the slight mounds they produce under fallen leaves during the fall months