the western matsutake can be distinguished from its asian counterparts by its whiter color, and from its north american counterparts by range, which does not overlap. it is mostly white while "t. magnivelare" and "t. mesoamericanum" tend to be darker in cap coloration, though all three can stain reddish brown with handling when mature. "t. murrillianum" also has a smoother pileus than the eastern "t. magnivelare".