A large fungus with a coarse scaly brown cap found growing either solitary or in small scattered groups on soil in coniferous woodland.
A rare species, from late Summer till Autumn.
Coniferous woodland.
The fruiting body's cap is yellowish-brown, with darker brown scales that are erect at the centre, flattened toward the incurved margin, slightly depressed at the centre.
Thick and white, and full in the stem. Odour is spicy, taste is either mild or slightly bitter.
Spines are decurrent, white or pallid becoming grey with a purplish-brown tinge.
Not authentically British. The true S. imbricatus is known only with native Picea in continental Europe. British collections are all with Pinus, and are probably all S. squamosus. (Ref: BC checklist)
