Medium to large agaric, growing on the ground, often in connate clusters, with a white spore print. Pileus brown or grey, not viscid. Lamellae adnate. Stipe central. Partial veil remnants none. Spores hyaline or pale, non-amyloid, smooth; germ pore absent. Cheilocystidia absent. Lamellar trama regular. Pileipellis a cutis. Clamp connections present.

Tricholoma differs in the absence of clamp connections.

Basidia of Lyophyllum are unusual in possessing siderophilous granulation when stained in a solution of iron and acetocarmine. Cleménçon (2004) and Largent et al. (1977) provided details of the specialised reagents required to detect siderophilous granulation. Its occurrence is an important character for distinguishing Lyophyllum from Macrocybe, which forms massive fruit-bodies in clusters (and is known only from Queensland).

Australian species of Lyophyllum are poorly known. The most commonly encountered species is a member of the Lyophyllum decastes (= L. aggregatum) group which forms large clusters of fruit-bodies with connate stipe bases. There are also some undescribed species that have a greyish pileus and fruit-bodies that blacken on handling.

The Lyophyllum tylicolor group is keyed out separately because the spores are rough. The Lyophyllum anthracophilum group is keyed out separately because the fruit-bodies do not grow in connate clusters.

Qld, Vic. and Tas. (and probably also W.A., N.T., S.A. and N.S.W.).

In native forests.

On the ground.

Saprotrophic, although one species (L. decastes) confirmed as ectomycorrhizal.

Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (eds) (1991), Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 3. Boletes and Agarics 1st part. Edition Mykologia, Lucerne. [Illustration, Description and Microcharacters of L. decastes]

Fuhrer, B. (2005), A Field Guide to Australian Fungi. Bloomings Books, Hawthorn. [Description and Illustration of L. connatum [It is possible that this illustration depicts a species of Macrocybe. Details of siderophilous granulation in the basidia are required for confirmation of the identification as Lyophyllum]]

Hood, I.A. (2003), An Introduction to Fungi on Wood in Queensland. University of New England, School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Armidale. [Description and Illustration of L. aff. decastes [This may in fact be a species of Macrocybe, especially since it is noted that siderophilous granulation is absent]