Gymnopilus sapineus

Scaly Rustgill

A small to medium, golden-tawny Gymnopilus that grows on dead conifer wood, especially pine. The cap is finely hairy to scaly, the gills turn rusty brown, and the flesh usually tastes bitter. It is very close to Gymnopilus penetrans, and field guides disagree on how the two are separated.

Species profile

Edibility: Toxic
Not edible; bitter, and First Nature describes it as inedible and possibly poisonous, noting that some Gymnopilus contain seriously poisonous chemicals. The deadly Galerina marginata (amatoxins) also grows on wood and has a rusty-brown spore print; it is smaller and browner, with a thin ring zone, which is one more reason small rusty-spored mushrooms on wood should never be eaten without expert identification.

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Characteristics

Cap: 2-9 cm, convex to nearly flat, sometimes with a broad bump; smooth to finely hairy or scaly; yellowish to tawny, orange-brown or reddish brown. Gills: attached, close to crowded; yellow, developing rusty spots and becoming rusty brown. Stem: 3-7 cm long, up to about 1.5 cm thick, colored like the cap but paler, darkening brownish from the base; cortina-like veil soon disappearing, no persistent ring. Flesh: whitish to pale yellow; taste bitter or occasionally mild. Chemical: KOH dark red then black on cap. Spore print: rusty brown to orange-brown. Spores: elliptical, warty, dextrinoid, about 6.5-10 x 4-5.5 um (MushroomExpert; First Nature).