The North American species of Pholiota, by Alexander H. Smith and L. R. Hesler.

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The North American Species of Pholiota

Cheilocystidia 30-50 x 7-14 /, obtusely fusoid to fusoid-ventricose, varying to subclavate, lemon-yellow in KOH, wall thin and smooth. Caulocystidia 28-80 X (4) 6-14(18),/, versiform (cylindric, fusoid, fusoidventricose or subclavate) smooth, walls thin to slightly thickened, yellowish in KOH to nearly hyaline, content homogeneous.
Gill trama of a central region of parallel hyphae, or in age somewhat
interwoven, the cells becoming inflated, walls smooth, thin, pale yellow
in KOH; subhymenium gelatinous, of narrow (2-3 /i) hyphae in subparallel to interwoven arrangement. Pileus cutis a thick gelatinous
pellicle with narrow (2-2.5 u,) yellowish hyphae dispersed widely in it,
the hyphal walls smooth to slightly encrusted, in age many reticulated
or creased transversely; hypodermial zone of floccose narrow hyphae 3-8
/L with rusty brown walls smooth or with slight incrustations. Context
hyphae inflated, with smooth thin yellowish to greenish-yellow walls.
Clamp connections present. All hyphae inamyloid.
HABIT, HABITAT, AND DISTRIBUTION: On alder branches and debris
but also on conifer wood, Pacific Northwest, September-October.
OBSERVATIONS: This is a small pale cinnamon species very common
on the remains of alder and other hardwoods in the Pacific Northwest.
The flesh is pallid, and the lamellae, veil, and stipe are white. It appears
related to P. subfulva and P. decorata. The color (ochraceous tawny) of
the spores in KOH is unusual in this group, and the pleurocystidia often
have the thickened wall almost obscured by the content of the cell which
has about the same index of refraction. Broken cystidia with the content
escaped are best for measuring wall thickness.
MATERIAL EXAMINED: (on alder): OREGON: Smith 19239, 19239a,
19388 (type). On conifer wood); IDAHO: Smith 23531, 44311, 44340,
44341, 44485, 46594, 47117, 47117a, 53886, 55223, 58470, 58521, 58631,
58690, 68820, 69620, 70091, 70261, 73316, 73582, 73588, 73662, 73959,
73977, 74070. OREGON: Smith 23669, 23916, 23975, 24005, 27374.
WASHINGTON: Smith 16727, 30627, 30731.
144a. Pholiota occidentalis var. luteifolia var. nov.
Pilets 2.5(6) cm latus, convexus, viscidus, minute squamulosus
glabrescens, cinnamomeus. Lamellae pallide luteae latae, adnatae, confertae vel subdistantes. Stipes 2.5-6 cm longus, 3-6 mm crassus, sursum
pallidus, deorsum fulvus. Vellum pallidium. Sporae 6-7 x 3.5-4 L. Specimen typicum in Herb. Univ. of Mich. conservatum est; legit prope Upper
Priest Lake, Boundary Co., Idaho. 13 Oct. 1966. Smith 74169.
Pileus 2-5 (6) cm broad, convex with an incurved margin, expanding to plane or slightly depressed, thinly slimy and at first with minute
squamules of veil remnants which are soon removed, at times finally
more or less areolate, tawny cinnamon on disc, pallid to yellowish pallid
on margin in age, margin at first fringed with pallid fibrils from the veil.