About this fungus
Scaly Rustgill is a fungus in the Hymenogastraceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small to medium orange-brown mushroom on dead conifer wood, with a dry cap broken into fine darker fibres or scales and gills that darken toward rusty brown.
What to check
Confirm direct growth from dead or buried conifer wood, a dry finely scaly cap, no ring, and attached gills that begin yellowish and mature orange to rusty brown. A rusty-brown spore print supports the genus.
Lookalikes
Gymnopilus penetrans is extremely similar and may require microscopy to separate. Spectacular Rustgill is generally larger, grows in substantial clusters and has a persistent ring. Field photographs should not be treated as certain where the microscopic lookalike occurs.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic on conifer stumps, logs and buried wood, especially pine, from late summer into autumn. It can appear to grow from soil when wood is hidden below the surface.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
Richard Kneal / CC BY-SA 3.0