The North American Species of Pholiota
Subgenus Flammula (Fr.) Singer
Lilloa 22: 515. 1951 Emended
The dextrinoid, non-truncate spores combined with the absence of both leptocystidia and chrysocystidia in the hymenium, and the lack of a persistent membranous annulus distinguish this group. Young pilei are usually a bright yellow and the lower part of the stipe is strongly fulvescent. The spore deposit may have a stronger reddish tone than is typical for the genus as a whole.
Type: P. flavida.
Key
| 1. Taste distinctly bitter in fresh basidiocarps | |
| 1. Taste mild to nutty or fungoid | 2 |
| 2. Caulocystidia 30-80 (100) x 4-7 µ subsetiform | |
| 2. Caulocystidia not as above | 3 |
| 3. Stipe with a thin coating of thick-walled hyphae | |
| 3. Not as above | 4 |
| 4. Spores 6-9 (10) x 4-5 µ | 5 |
| 4. Spores 8-11 (12) x 4.5-5.5 µ | 7 |
| 5. Odor heavy (as in some fats) | |
| 5. Odor none to slightly fragrant | 6 |
| 6. Lamellae distant; hyphae of gill trama and pileus context orange-red in Melzer's reagent | |
| 6. Lamellae close; hyphae of gill and pileus trama not as above (see P. aurantioflava also) | |
| 7. Odor of freshly husked green corn; growing on wood of conifers | |
| 7. Odor and taste not distinctive; on wood of hardwoods |
