Pholiota spp.

Scientific names: Kuehneromyces vernalis
(Sacc.) Singer & A.H. Sm. (= P. vernalis);
Pholiota spumosa (Fr.) Singer; Pholiota
populnea (Pers.) Kuyper & Tjall.-Beuk.;
Pholiota polychroa (Berk.) A.H. Sm. &
H.J. Brodie; Kuehneromyces mutabilis
(Schaeff.) Singer & A.H. Sm.
(= P. mutabilis);  Pholiota highlandensis
(Peck) A.H. Sm. & Hesler; Pholiota flavida
(Schaeff.) Singer; Hemistropharia
albocrenulata (Peck) Jacobsson & E.
Larss. (= P. albocrenulata).
Derivation of names: Phol- means "scale"
referring to the scaly caps of many species in
the genus. Vernalis pertains to spring. Spumosa
means "foamy" or "foaming." Populnea refers
to poplars and aspens. Polychroa means "many
colors." Mutabilis means "changeable."
Highlandensis means TBD. Flavida means
"yellowish." Albocrenulata means "white
notched."  
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Agaricales
Family:   Strophariaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic;
many grow in clusters on deciduous wood
and/or conifers but some are terrestrial,
growing from buried or burned wood;
spring through fall depending on the species.
Dimensions: Consult field guides.
Cap: Many of the large specimens have scaly
and/or slimy caps but some species have smooth
caps.
Gills: Attached
Spore print:Brown to rusty-brown to
cinnamon-brown.
Stipe: Consult field guides.
Veil: Evidences of partial veils (rings, ring zones)
and/or universal veils (scales) evident in young
specimens.
Edibility: Some species are edible and some
are poisonous.
Comments: Few Pholiota species can be identified
with certainty apart from microscopic examination.
This is true even of P. aurivella which can be
indistinguisable macroscopically from P. limonella.
In situations of confusion with Gymnopilus spp.,
Pholiota spores are smooth and an apical pore is
evident.

More information at MushroomExpert.com:


Figure 1. P. vernalis. Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 2. P. spumosa complex.  Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 3. P. populnea. Photo © Steve Nelsen.

Figure 4. P. polychroa. Photo © Steve Nelsen.

Figure 5. P. mutabilis. Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 6. P. highlandensis. Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 7. P. highlandensis. Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 8. P. flavida complex. Photo © Steve Nelsen.


Figure 9. P. albocrenulata. Photo © Steve Nelsen.

Figure 10. Firewood log with Pholiota species emerging from
the decayed heartwood. Photo © Michael Emberger.

Figure 11. Enlargement of cespitose cluster in Figure 10.
Photo © Michael Emberger.