Golden bootleg

The cap, and indeed initially the whole of the mushroom, is covered by a grainy sheath that eventually tears at the cap rim to form a pendent ring so substantial that it might better be described as a 'skirt' on the stem. Cap diameter at maturity is typically 8 to 20 cm, exceptionally 30 cm, and rounded at first becoming almost flat with a small central umbo. In very dry weather caps can develop upturned wavy margins. The colour is usually orange-tan or golden brown, with a dry and granulose surface, and the margin is often fringed with irregular veil fragments. The adnate crowded gills have short decurrent teeth and are a pale golden colour, turning slightly darker with age. 10 to 20 cm tall and typically 2 to 3 cm across, the stipe increases in diameter towards the clavate base. Above the ring, which persists through the life of the fruitbody, the stem is smooth and glossy and lighter in colour than the cap, below the ring the stem is striate and coloured much the same as the cap, with a similarly granulose surface.When cut, the light yellow stem flesh gradually darkens.