Pholiota molesta
The North American species of Pholiota: p. 284. 1968.
Common Name: none
Misapplied name: Pholiota highlandensis Peck
Cap 20-40 mm broad, convex, plano-convex in age; margin incurved, then decurved, minutely fringed in youth from pallid veil fragments; surface glabrous, viscid when moist, pinkish brown to orange brown when young, at maturity developing rusty to reddish brown areas, eventually brownish overall; context thin, pallid; odor not distinctive, taste usually mild.
Gills notched, adnate to adnexed, close to crowded, narrow; at first pallid, becoming light-brown in age; edges even; lamellulae in two to three series.
Stipe 25-50 x 5-10 mm in width, equal, round, stuffed to hollow at maturity; surface white, apex pruinose, lower stipe at first covered with whitish veil fragments, eventually forming patchy orange brown to brown bands; base of stipe dingy-brown; partial veil whitish, forming an inconspicuous evanescent fibrillose zone on the upper stipe.
Spores 6.5-7.5 x 4-4.5 µm, elliptical in face-view, similar but slightly inequilateral in profile, smooth, moderately thick-walled, hilar appendage and apical germ pore inconspicuous; spores dark reddish-brown in deposit
Scattered, gregarious, to clustered on burnt soil, near charred logs or in fire pits; fruiting spring and fall in montane regions; locally common.
Unkown.
Pholiota molesta is one of several Pholiota species that fruit in the charred aftermath of forest fires. Although a small group, a tangle of nomenclatural names and confused species concepts have complicated their identification. Fortuitously, a 2019 study by Matheny et. al. clarifies the taxonomy of North American pyrophilous Pholiotas and refines their descriptions. One result is that Pholiota molesta, a common Sierra post-fire species, is thought to often be misidentified as P. highlandensis. Both species occur in California but usually can be told apart with a combination of characters. Pholiota molesta is recognized by a short, squat, to normal stature, cap when young, pinkish brown to orange brown, developing reddish brown areas, later becoming brownish overall, an initial whitish fibrillose veil that eventually forms orange brown to brown bands on the lower stipe, and narrow, often crowded gills. Pholiota highlandensis typically has a slender stature, cap that varies from cream buff, light brown, tawny brown to brown, (but not pinkish brown), whitish veil that may or may not form brownish scales on the lower stipe, and relatively broad gills. A third Pholiota, P. brunnescens, found more commonly in northern California, is recognized by comparatively large size, cap up to 70 mm broad, often clustered fruitings, broad gills, and an orange brown bruising stipe reaction. The Matheny et.al. study also reduced the number of North American species reported in the literature from seven to four, synonymizing Pholiota carbonaria and P. fulvozonata with P. highlandensis; P. luteobadia with Pholiota brunnescens; and P. subsaponacea with P. molesta. It should be noted that besides burn Pholiotas, a few other gill mushrooms occur in this habitat, the most similar of which is Crassisporium funariophilum, formerly known as Pachylepyrium carbonicola. It is recognized by a glabrous, rusty brown to brown cap, thin stipe, fibrillose veil, and microscopically by spores that are thick-walled and angular in faceview.
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Matheny, P.B., Swenie, R.A., Miller, A.N., Petersen, R.H. & Hughes, K.W. (2018). Revision of pyrophilous taxa of Pholiota described from North America reveals four species—P. brunnescens, P. castanea, P. highlandensis, and P. molesta. Mycologia: 1-20. (Abstract)
Smith, A.H. & Hesler, L.R. (1968). The North American Species of Pholiota. Hafner Publishing Company: New York, NY. 492 p. (Web) (PDF) (Protologue)
— second photo is P. brunnescens
