EDIBLE when very young but not recommended: Only tender young buttons are soft enough to eat - specimens become very tough and fibrous quickly. Even young ones have tough texture requiring extensive cooking. Strong anise flavor is off-putting to many. Generally not worth eating due to toughness and strong flavor. Safe but unpalatable. The distinctive scales, anise odor, and conifer wood habitat aid identification.
Medium to large mushroom with white to cream cap 2-6 inches wide covered in brown scales, especially concentrated toward center. White decurrent gills. Thick central white stem 2-5 inches tall with shaggy brown scales below partial ring. Has GILLS, not pores. Grows on conifer wood. Tough, fibrous texture. Strong anise or licorice smell when fresh.
| Family | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Genus | Neolentinus |
| Edibility | Edible* |
| Toxicity | unknown |
| Season | May-Oct |
| Habitat | Saprobic on conifer wood including logs, stumps, railroad ties, telephone poles, and construction lumber. Causes brown cubical rot. Common on pine, fir, spruce, and other conifer wood. Famous for damaging railroad ties and wooden structures - hence 'Train Wrecker.' Found on processed and weathered conifer wood. |
| Region | Western North America, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Northern conifer forests, Widespread in conifer regions, Circumboreal distribution |
Habitat: Saprobic on conifer wood including logs, stumps, railroad ties, telephone poles, and construction lumber. Causes brown cubical rot. Common on pine, fir, spruce, and other conifer wood. Famous for damaging railroad ties and wooden structures - hence 'Train Wrecker.' Found on processed and weathered conifer wood.
Region: Western North America, Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, Northern conifer forests, Widespread in conifer regions, Circumboreal distribution
Spring through fall, typically May-October. Can appear year-round on protected wood like railroad ties. Peak in summer. Fruits from same wood repeatedly over years.
Typical months: May-Oct
Always verify identification to avoid these similar species. The differentiator is the point — learn the one or two tells that separate them:
Pin the patch before you leave it. Coordinates, photos, and field notes stay on your device — and the offline lookalike guide travels with you into the deep woods.
Download Mushroom TrackerDisclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Never consume a wild mushroom unless you are 100% certain of its identification.