Leucopholiota decorosa

Scientific name: Leucopholiota decorosa (Peck) O. K.
Miller, Jr., T. J. Volk & Bessette  
Derivation of name: Decor- means elegant.
Synonyms:  Armillaria decorosa (Peck) A. H. Smith,
Tricholomopsis decorosa (Peck) Singer, Agaricus
decorosus Peck
Common name(s):  Decorated Pholiota.
Phylum:  Basidiomycota
Order: Agaricales
Family:  Tricholomataceae
Occurrence on wood substrate:  Saprobic; single to small
groups on decaying hardwood stumps and logs; late
summer and fall.  
Dimensions: Caps 2.5-6.5 cm wide; stipes 2.5-7.0 cm long
and 0.6-1.2 cm thick.    
Cap: Surface covered with rusty brown, pointed, erect and
recurved scales.        
Gills: Attached; white; edges uneven or finely scalloped.  
Spore print: White.
Stipe: Equal or enlarging toward base; smooth and white
above ring zone; covered with rusty brown, pointed,
recurved scales below ring zone.
Veil: Coarse, rusty brown fibrils flare upward and form a ring
zone.
Edibility: Unknown.
Comments: All the specimens in these photographs
were found the same day in the same location, the only
time I've found this species. Most published photographs
of this species show the scales to be abundant and quite
erect, giving the mushroom a much more textured
appearance than the specimens I found. I've wondered if
the specimens pictured here are simply older or if the cap
scales were flattened as a result of rain.

More information at TomVolkFungi.net


Figure 1. Leucopholiota decorosa growing on a decaying
birch log late in the fall (November 9). Photo © Gary
Emberger.

Figure 2. Caps covered with rusty brown scales.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 3. Leucopholiota decorosa. Photo © John
Plischke III.

Figure 3. The scales on Leucopholiota decorosa are erect
and bent backward (recurved) toward the center of the cap.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 4. The gills are white at maturity. Leucopholiota
decorosa has white spores. Similar looking Pholiota spp.
have brown spores. Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 5. The lower portion of the stipe of Leucopholiota
decorosa is also covered with erect, pointed scales.
Photo © Gary Emberger.

Figure 6. Gills are attached to the stem. Because there is a
distinct notch in the gill just before its point of attachment to
the stem, this form of gill attachment is sometimes called
adnexed. Note the uneven or finely scalloped gill edges.
Photo © Gary Emberger.