BASIDIOMYCETES: Agaricales, Strophariaceae

Scaly Pholiota, Pholiota squarrosa

Basidiomycetes, order: Agaricales, family: Strophariaceae

Height to 5"

Cap is up to 4" wide, rounded, and then becoming convex to flattened, and its dry, beige surface is covered with discrete, dark, upcurved scales. The stalk is thick, with coloring and scaling as on the cap, and retains veil remnants from a collar near the top. Gills are attached, pale yellow-green, becoming brown. Spore print is brown. Scaly Pholiotas grow on stumps in mixed coniferous or deciduous woodlands throughout North America during the summer and fall. Not edible: poisonous!