1. Pholiota squarrosa Phylum Basidomycota Class Basidomycetes Order Agaricles Family Strophariaceae http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pictures/13Sep04/DSCN0026.JPG

2. 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

3. Microscopic Spores: smooth, elliptical Spore print: rusty brown # of sterigmata= 2 Basidia length to width ratio less than 4:1 http://www.cx.sakura.ne.jp/~kinoko/phots7_stu2/sugitake_sp.jpg http://www.usask.ca/biology/kaminskyj/342/pic tures/21Sep04_lab/DSCN0022.JPG

4. 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_s quarrosoides.jpg http://ifff.boku.ac.at/Phytopathologie/D ias/Armillaria_mellea_3.jpg

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

6. 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

7. 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