Pholiota squarrosaPhylum BasidomycotaClass Basidomycetes

Order AgariclesFamily Strophariaceae

http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pictures/13Sep04/DSCN0026.JPG

Macroscopic

• Cap: convex, scaly, yellow to yellow brown, 5-15cm broad

• Gills: adnate to subdecurrent, yellowish when young, greenish-brown with age

• Stipe: colour same as cap, annulus present, scaly, up to 12cm tall, 1.5-2.5cm thick

• Habitat: clusters on dead logs and

stumps

Taste and odour: radish like

http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pictures/13Sep04/DSCN0032.JPG

Microscopic

• Spores: smooth, elliptical• Spore print: rusty brown• # of sterigmata= 2• Basidia length to width

ratio less than 4:1http://www.cx.sakura.ne.jp/~kinoko/phots7_stu2/sugitake_sp.jpg

http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pictures/21Sep04_lab/DSCN0022.JPG

Edibility

• Was though to be edible• Recently know to be toxic• Reaction when consumed with alcohol• Gastrointestinal reaction with 1 hour• Symptoms included nausea, vomiting etc.• Symptoms last 24-48 hours• Can be confused for Armillaria mellea (Honey Fungus)

and P. squarrosoides

www.namyco.org/photography/DDennis/Pholiota_squarrosoides.jpg

http://ifff.boku.ac.at/Phytopathologie/Dias/Armillaria_mellea_3.jpg

http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pictures/13Sep04/DSCN0029.JPG

Damaging

• P. squarrosa is mycorrhizal with aspen, birch, and conifers

• Necrotrophic parasites• Will kill a tree and live on dead wood as a saprophyte• Causes butt rot in aspens

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/decay/decay_fig4.jpg

Medical uses

• Anti-H-like aggutinins which agglutinated strongly with O type RBC’s were found in the extracts of P. squarrosa

• Agglutination- the clumping together of RBC or bacteria, usually in a response to a particular antibody. (Dictionary.com)

http://academic.sun.ac.za/haema/dept/aggl.JPG