Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Thelephorales
Family: Bankeraceae
Genus: Sarcodon

Cap yellow brown to vinaceous brown with blackish brown scales appearing to be outlined in white; disc slightly depressed to NOT depressed, scales in center are NOT or slightly pointed upwards and scales near margin are smaller than S. imbricatus. Stalk is generally equal or shorter than the diameter of the cap giving it a short squatty appearance. The stalk is often pinched or attenuated at the base and the apex is paler than the rest of the stalk. The spines are slightly decurrent, short (5-10 mm) and grayish or grayish blue tones when fresh. Context is whitish but sometimes the base of the stalk is blackish brown. Odor is aromatic or spicy and the taste is mild. The habitat is with PINES. Possessing water soluble blue pigments for dyeing wool, silk and other textiles. KOH unknown on flesh. Clamp connections on the hyphae.

The above description was provided by Darvin DeShazer in a small key he created to differentiate between Sarcodon imbricatus, S. squamosus and S. scabrosus based on Johannesson, Hanna, Svengunnar Ryman, Hjordis Lundmark and Eric Danell. 1999. Sarcodon imbricatus and S. squamosus – two confused species. Mycol. Res. 103 (11): 1447-1452.

Appears to be widely distributed where pines grow in the northern hemisphere. The name is originally for a European collection and the name is regularly applied in the western US and other areas with pine forests.

Pine forests.

S. imbricatus and S. scabrosus.

Considered a good edible. Not particularly popular in the western US, but in other areas of the world this or a close relatively is sold commercially.

Described in McIlvaine (1902).

Photos believed to be S. squamosus, but erroneously listed as S. imbricatus.
Arora (1991) p. 204; Atkinson (1903) p. 199; Bessette & Bessette (2001) p. 152; Bessette, Bessette & Fischer (1997) p. 413; Bossenmaier (1997) p. 67B2; Jordan (2004) p. 124; Lincoff (1981) #466; McKenny, Stuntz & Ammirati. (1987) p. 173; Miller (1979) #337; Miller & Miller (2006) p. 402; Phillips (1981) p. 242; Pegler, Roberts and Spooner (1997) p. 93; Sept (2006) p. 67.

Unresolved photos: (conflicting descriptions &/or unclear photos)
Castellano (2003) p. 100.

References:
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