Phyllotopsis nidulans
Pileus
Fruiting body 2-8 cm broad, fan-shaped, convex with an incurved margin, becoming nearly plane, the margin then often wavy; surface hygrophanous, moist, densely tomentose, pale apricot-brown to buff-brown, lighter in age; flesh thin, pliant to tough, buff-brown, unchanging; odor skunk-like; taste unpleasant; stipe and veil absent.
Lamellae
Gills radiating from a sessile attachment point, close, relatively narrow, pale orange-buff, darkening slightly in age.
Spores
Spores 4.5-6.5 x 2-2.5 µm, bean-shaped, smooth, inamyloid; spore print pale salmon-pink.
Habitat
Clustered or forming overlapping shelves on log and branches of hardwoods and conifers; fruiting from mid to late winter.
Edibility
Unknown and unlikely to change due to a tough context and fetid odor.
Comments
This fleshy shelf fungus looks like and was once placed in Pleurotus, but was moved into its own genus because of spore and context differences. The skunk-like odor and pale orange, tomentose cap easily distinguish it from any of our local Panus or Crepidotus species.
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