Pholiota castanea is a species of mushroom that belongs to the family Strophariaceae. It has a chestnut-brown cap, typically 3-8 cm in diameter, with a smooth to slightly scaly surface. The gills are crowded and pale yellow to brown. In East and Central Texas, Pholiota castanea is commonly found growing on deciduous trees, particularly oak, during the fall months. It tends to thrive in wooded areas with rich soil and adequate moisture. The fungus can be encountered singly or in small groups, often at the base of trees or on stumps and logs.
Slimy reddish brown caps of charcoal scale-head pyrophilous mushrooms (Pholiota castanea) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, January 5, 2013
Park Road 1-A, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Orange-brown slimy caps of charcoal scale-head mushrooms (Pholiota castanea) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, January 5, 2013Park Road 1-A, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Mushrooms Pholiota castanea on burned ground on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville. Texas, December 16, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Dark brown caps of mushrooms Pholiota castanea on burned ground on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville. Texas, December 16, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Mushrooms Pholiota castanea on heavily burned ground in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, December 21, 2018Park Rd 1C, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA
Mushrooms Pholiota castanea near the trail in a pine forest on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, January 25, 2020Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USAObservations of Pholiota castanea in East and Central Texas reveal that the fungus typically grows on burned ground, with sightings in Bastrop State Park and Sam Houston National Forest. The caps of the mushrooms are often described as slimy and range in color from reddish brown to orange-brown to dark brown. Specific observations include the presence of charcoal scale-head pyrophilous mushrooms in Bastrop State Park on January 5, 2013, and again on December 21, 2018, after a heavy burn. Similar sightings were reported in Sam Houston National Forest on December 16, 2018, and January 25, 2020, with the fungus growing on burned ground and near trails in pine forests. The consistent presence of Pholiota castanea on burned areas suggests a possible association between the fungus and fire-damaged environments.
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