Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm.

Doug Minier -

Pholiota squarrosa, known as the shaggy scalycap or shaggy Pholiota, is the type species for the genus Pholiota.

Pholiota squarrosa cluster growing at the base of a living maple tree.
Figure 1. Pholiota squarrosa cluster growing at the base of a living maple tree.

 

  • Phylum: Basidomycota
  • Class: Agaricomycetes
  • Order: Agaricales
  • Family: Strophariacaea
  • Genus: Pholiota
  • Epithet: squarrosa
  • Authority: (Vahl) P. Kumm.
  • Collection #: PLP847_2018_172
  • Locale: Schoolcraft County, Michigan

Pholiota squarrosa, known as the shaggy scalycap or shaggy Pholiota, is the type species for the genus Pholiota. The genus name is derived from the Greek word Pholis, meaning ‘a scale,’ and the specific epithet, squarrosa, which translates to ‘with upright scales.

Ecology: Saprobic in clusters at the base of standing living or dead broad-leaf trees, particularly beech, and occasionally at the base of conifer stumps. This collection was found at the base of a living maple in a mixed forest (Fig. 1). It is thought that P. squarrosa is an opportunistic parasite and can attack trees that have been weakened by previous injury.

Morphology: Cap and stem are yellowish under the conspicuous reddish-brown scales for which this species is named (Fig. 2). Other members of this genus, including the very similar P. squarrosoides, have sticky caps, but P. squarrosa has a dry cap. Stem is 4-12 cm long and up to 1.5 cm thick. A partial veil covers the gills when young and is shaggy or cortina-like in appearance (Fig. 3). Mature specimens have an annulus and involute margin. Flesh is white to yellowish. Odor is garlic-like, mild, but somewhat unpleasant.

Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm Figure 2
Figure 2. Close up view of the stipe of Pholiota squarrosa showing the prominent scales.
Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm Figure 3
Figure 3. Close up view of the cobweb-like partial veil of Pholiota squarrosa.

Spores: 5.5-9.0 x 3.5-5.0 μm; smooth; elliptical; with an apical pore; reddish-brown in KOH (Fig. 4). Spore print reddish brown (Fig. 5)

Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm Figure 4
Figure 4. Spores of Pholiota squarrosa.
Pholiota squarrosa (Vahl) P. Kumm Figure 5
Figure 5. Spore print of Pholiota squarrosa.

 Edibility: Not edible, considered poisonous, especially when consumed with alcohol.

 References:

 

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