Pholiota flammans - Flaming Scalycap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Quite rare and certainly a special find, the Flaming Scalycap must count as one of Nature’s masterpieces. Monochrome orange all over, and with its cap and lower stem covered in upturned fleecy scales, it is as shaggy as Pholiota squarrosa that grows on the bases of living trees; however, the Flaming Scalycap is found only on dead wood, and nearly always rotting conifer stumps. Only occasionally growing in tufts, these fabulous forest fungi more often fruit singly.

Like other Pholiota species this mushroom tastes very bitter and is inedible. (Pictures courtesy of Richard Haynes)

Identification Guide

	Cap 3 to 7cm across; bright yellow when young, maturing orange-yellow with upturned fleecy scales covering the entire cap surface; slimy beneath the scales; convex, becoming broadly convex but not flattening entirely. Gills Adnate; luminous orange-yellow. Stem 4 to 8cm tall and 0.8 to 1.5cm dia.; orange; smooth above ring zone; covered in fibrous scales below.
Spore print	Brown.
Odour/taste	Odour not distinctive; taste very bitter.
Habitat	On rotting conifer stumps, fallen trunks and dead roots.
Season	June to November.
Occurrence	Infrequent.
Similar species	Pholiota squarrosa has much larger, darker scales on its cap, and it grows most often on damaged areas of the lower trunks of living trees.