Scientific name
Pholiota squarrosa
Description
Shaggy scalycap mushroom has 4-12 cm in diameter, yellow-colored or straw-yellow caps that are coated with inverted triangular rings of brown scales. The crowns are initially convex but eventually become flattened with a rolled edge. The flesh of the cap has a very pale golden color and is extremely firm.
The Shaggy scalycap has dense adnate gills that are initially a light grayish yellow before turning cinnamon-colored as the spores develop. Their spores are smooth and ellipsoidal in shape. They have a diameter of 5.5-9 x 3.5-5μm with an epical germ spore. The juvenile gills have a veil resembling a cortina over them. The stem is 6-15 cm long, 6- 16 mm in diameter, and coated in scales that resemble those found on the cap below a noticeably scaly ring. Above the ring, the top portion of the stem is smoother and paler. It has been compared to skunk, radish, onion, garlic, and lemon. It tastes strongly like radishes and is pungent. They are somewhat toxic and are not suitable to eat.
Habitat
The Shaggy scalycap mushroom is endemic to Europe and North America. They grow in tiny clusters at the foot of wood logs and stumps. They are mostly found standing dead or surviving broad-leaf trees, notably beech; sporadically at the base of coniferous tree stumps. They are saprobic or may also be weakly parasitic.
Uses/Importance
The shaggy scalycap mushroom has special compounds that are supposed to aid in the infection of plants by thwarting plant defense mechanisms. The shaggy scalycap mushrooms are not edible although they look lovely. They are somewhat poisonous or toxic in nature.
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