FOTD #094 : flame scalecap! (pholiota flammans)

the flame scalecap (also called yellow / flaming pholiota) is a basidiomycete agaric fungus in the family strophariaceae. it is found in europe, russia, north america, india & china :-) this fungus grows exclusively on decaying or dead stumps / trunks from coniferous trees !!

the big question : can i bite it?? they are non-poisonous - some consider them edible, some consider them inedible.

p. flammans description :

"the cap surface is dry, matt & felt-like, & in wet conditions may lose scales. the cap margin remain curved slightly inwards. the yellow gills are crowded together, attached to the stem, & have a notch where the gill attaches to the stem. a bright yellow partial veil extending from the cap edge to the edge is present in immature species. as the cap expands & flattens with age, the partial veil tears, leaving a faint ring around the stem. the cylindrical straight or curved stem is itself covered in yellow squamules below the ring. the base of the stem, typically more orange in colour than the upper portion, is firmly attached to the dead wood from which the fungus arises. the section of stem above the ring bears little or no protuberances. the flesh is firm, full, yellow & does not change colour when bruised or injured. the dimensions of the fruit body are as follows: cap diameter up to 8 cm (3+1⁄8 in), stem up to 12 cm (4+3⁄4 in) tall & between 0.4 to 1 cm (1⁄8 to 3⁄8 in) cm thick. as the fruit body matures, the gills darken to cinnamon brown following spore release."

[images : source & source]

Pholiota subflammans. by Bernard Spragg. NZ Via Flickr: Pholiota flammans, commonly known as the yellow pholiota, the flaming Pholiota, or the flame scalecap, is a basidiomycete agaric mushroom of the genus Pholiota. Its fruit body is golden-yellow in color throughout, while its cap and stem are covered in sharp scales. As it is a saprobic fungus, the fruit bodies typically appear in clusters on the stumps of dead coniferous trees.

Yellow or Flaming Pholiota, or Flame Scalecap - Pholiota flammans