Found singly or in clumps from summer through fall, this plum-streaked fungi grows on stumps and logs in coniferous woodlands in the northern temperate zone including North America. It grows 2.5 to 4.5 inches tall with a cap two to six inches across. The cap is hemispherical with an inrolled margin at first but flattens with age. It has a velvety appearance but often splits and takes on scaly patches as it matures. The gills are crowded, almost free from the stem, and bright yellow at first but turn dark with time. The stem is often curved, scaly, and yellow with splashes of plum on the bottom. The spores are white.
Although the plums and custard mushroom is edible the unpleasant smell is off-putting so is not considered desirable for the table. On the other hand, it is an attractive mushroom and can add interest to a dish and can be found in the markets of central Europe mixed with other mushrooms.
Whenever collecting mushrooms from the wild, seek expert advice on identification before eating them.
Photo Credit: Alberto Vázquez, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1393518