Myco Monday: Scaly Pholiota

Probably Pholiota squarrosa

We think this is a cluster of Scaly Pholiota (Pholiota squarrosa) sprouting from the base of an aspen. We think this mostly because we have a mycologist friend who said that's what he thinks it is and because it more or less seems to be doing what Scaly Photiola is supposed to do. When younger (e.g. here) the 'scaly' bit of the name is easier to understand, but these are mature, possibly over mature, mushrooms and probably well on their way to becoming fungus gnats.

According to David Aurora "Pholiota is the largest genus of brown-spored, wood-inhabiting agarics" and with over 200 species, some poisonous, some apparently not, it's probably not the kind of mushroom you'd want to take to dinner. Leave these for the flies, beetles, and microphotographers.