Phellodon tomentosus

photo: ABFG library

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Description

General: Smallish brown irregular plate-like cap with white margin, spiny under surface and brown spongy stem; solitary or in groups, often fused, on soil in broad leaf and coniferous woods, often associated with bilberry (Vaccinium).
Dimensions: Cap 2-6cm dia; stem 1-3cm tall x 0.3-0.8cm dia.
Fruit Body: Cap reddish or hazel-brown, darkening towards the centre, with whitish margin, shallowly infundibuliform, rosette-shaped, radially wrinkled and downy, margin smooth; stem concolorous, equal, matted fibrillose, typically several fused together; flesh: reddish-brown, darker in the stem; tough and corky; spines at first whitish or pallid then grey, more or less decurrent.
Spores: Hyaline, spiny, sub-spherical, non- amyloid, 3.5-4.0 x 2.5-3.5 µm . Basidia 4 spored; cystidia absent.
Odour: Fresh, not distinctive; dry, of fenugreek.
Taste: Slightly bitter.
Chemical Tests: None.
Occurrence: Late Summer to Autumn.

 

Qualifying criterion: 4.4: rare species associated with microhabitat
Justification: current BAP action for stipitate hydnoid fungi needs to be continued
Threats: habitat destruction, vehicle compaction, mountain biking, track maintenance, felling of host trees, eutrophication
Action Required: Survey and monitoring; protection against habitat loss and degradation; site liaison and management; ecological research.

 

Statistics:

UK (excluding NI & CI) fungus records

VC details to be updated

Total records: 291 records

Earliest recording: 1863
Latest recording: 2007
Vice Counties and (frequency):
Pre-1960: 81 records
NBN Gateway grid map Post-1960: 210 records
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