Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Scaly Tooth

Facts
Common Name: 
Scaly Tooth
Scientific Name: 
Sarcodon squamosus
Cap Diameter (mm): 
100-250mm
Stem Height (mm): 
40-70mm
Stem Diameter (mm): 
20-40mm
Information
Description: 

A large, coarsely scaly brown cap with a greyish spiny under surface, growing either solitary or in scattered groups on soil in coniferous woods favouring pine and spruce.

Distribution: 

An uncommon species with restricted to microhabitat of pinewoods predominantly in Scotland.

Habitat: 

Pine woods.

Cap: 

Yellowish-brown with coarse darker brown scales, erect at the centre more flattened at the incurved margin, arranged in concentric rows, initially shallowly convex then flattened or slightly depressed at the centre; stem initially whitish becoming brown but remaining pallid at the base, equal or somewhat clavate towards the base, downy.

Flesh: 

Spicy odour, taste not distinctive.

Gills: 

Spines decurrent, initially white or pallid, then grey with purplish-brown tinge,

Spores: 

Hyaline, smooth, sub-spherical, thick-walled, 5-6 x 3.5-4.0 µm . Basidia 4 spored.
 

Additional Notes: 

Rare, but the most frequently collected species of Sarcodon in Britain. All records of S. imbricatus belong to this species, the true S. imbricatus (only recently distinguished) being known only with Picea spp. in continental Europe. Conservation Status: Annex (Red Data List, ed. 2); BAP species