Pluteus leoninus - Lion Shield

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

The striking golden yellow cap of this medium-sized shield mushroom makes it easy to spot; however, its scarcity and its preference for dark, moist and well-shaded sites means that its appearance on fungus forays is an all too infrequent occurrence.

Like other shield mushrooms this is a wood-rotting fungus, and fallen hardwood trunks left to rot and gather moss for several years appear to be the Lion Shield's staple diet.

The specific epithet leoninus simply means 'like a lion', a reference to the colour rather than any other features of this rare woodland fungus!

Identification Guide

Cap	3 to 5 cm across, convex, developing a slight umbo but never fully flattening; smooth and finely velvety; margin only slightly striate (more visible when wet); golden-yellow with a slightly darker centre.
Gills	Free; crowded; white, often with yellowish edges, turning pink as the spores mature.
Spores	Pink.
Stem	4 to 7 cm long and 3 to 6mm dia.; smooth or slightly fibrillose; white background flushed with yellow, darkest near the base; no ring.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Solitary or in very small groups on old moss-covered stumps, rotting fallen trunks and fallen large branches of broad-leaf trees.
Season	Fruiting from early summer to late autumn.
Occurrence	Widespread but quite a rare find in most areas.
Similar species	Pluteus cervinus is usually larger and has a smooth brown or fawn cap. Pluteus chrysophaeus has a bright yellow cap but it is usually much smaller than Pluteus leoninus and does not have a darker central region.