[GS] Pileus 2-5-4 cm. diam., vinaceous brown, darker at centre, striate at edge, plano-convex, smooth, moist; flesh soft, dull vinaceous. Gills adnexed, pale vinaceous with translucent margins, moderately distant. Stipe 6 cm. x 4-5 mm., vinaceous fawn, smooth, sub-translucent, hollow, fragile. Spores 7-8 X 3-3.5um, amyloid, thin-walled. Hymenophoral trama and tissue of pileus strongly pseudo-amyloid. Cheilocystidia 20 x 5-6um, ornamented, in a rnore or less gelatinized layer (Fig. 2/46, p. 37). HABITAT: in litter in Pinus plantation, Ettrick, 16.5.1953, Stevenson (type). Although near to M, psammicola (Berk. & Br.) Sacc. and M. piceicola A. H. Smith, this is.a considerably more robust species. [EH] The poor state of the type collection precludes an accurate examination of the microscopical characters of this species. Because of this, it is uncertain whether M. pinicola is an introduced species. The fungus was found growing in litter in Pinus plantations. [JAC] The specimen is poor, but not unusable. Cap epidermis is partially gelatinised. This has weakly amyloid spores with a high Q length=7.2–9.1µm (µ=8.0, σ=0.49), width=3.2–3.9µm (µ=3.5, σ=0.18), Q=2.0–2.5µm (µ=2.27, σ=0.14), n=20. Occasional cylindrical cheilocystidia within an entangled mass of thinner hyphae on gill edge. There is no sign of Stevenson's ornamented cheilocystidia, nor was it ever probable given the stature of the fungus. This is M. 'craigieburn' , i.e. section calodontes, which is quite obvious when you read the description. Given that this is the second collection from a conifer plantation, it supports the idea that Craigieburn = M. vinacea, and that here in NZ at least, it is not confined to pinus plantations.

The poor state of the type collection precludes an accurate examination of the microscopical characters of this species. Because of this, it is uncertain whether M. pinicola is an introduced species. The fungus was found growing in litter in Pinus plantations.

[Notes from Kew Type specimen, PRJ 2010] Kew images.

Pileus 2.5-4 cm diam., vinaceous brown, darker at centre, striate at edge, plano-convex, smooth, moist; flesh soft, dull vinaceous. Gills adnexed, pale vinaceous with translucent margins, moderately distant. Stipe 6 cm. x 4-5 mm, vinaceous fawn, smooth, sub-translucent, hollow, fragile. Spores 7-8 x 3-3.5 µm, amyloid, thin-walled. Hymenophoral trama and tissue of pileus strongly pseudo-amyloid. Cheilocystidia 20 x 5-6 µm, ornamented, in a more or less gelatinized layer (Fig. 46).

In litter in Pinus plantation, Ettrick, 16.5.1953, Stevenson (type).

Pileus 2.5-4 cm diam., vinaceo-brunneus, medio fusciore, margine striatus, plano-convexus, laevis, humidus; caro mollis, obscure vinacea. Lamellae adnexae, pallide vinaceae, marginibus translucentibus, modice distantes. Stipes 6 cm x 4-5 mm, vinaceo-hinnuleus, laevis, subtranslucens, cavus, fragilis. Sporae 7-8 x 3-3.5 µm, amyloideae, parietibus tenuibus. Trama hymenophoralis et pilei textura valde pseudo-amyloidea. Cheilocystidia 20 x 5-6 µm, ornata, stratum plus minus efformantia gelatinatum.

Although near to M. psammicola (Berk. & Br.) Sacc. and M. piceicola A. H. Smith, this is a considerably more robust species.

Typus: Stevenson 893.