Sarcodon squamosus

This stemmed tooth fungus with strongly scaly cap and dark, purple-brown colouration is characteristic of remnants of the Caledonian forest. The teeth beneath the cap run down the top of the stem and when young are a beautiful but exceedingly pale lilaceous grey.

The species has been recorded in 45 10km squares in Scotland (post 1960) which accounts for 76% of the UK distribution. This fungus has been confused in the past and Scottish specimens have only recently been separated from a closely related continental species which grows with spruce. It was previously known in Britain as Sarcodon imbricatus.

It also occurs in some old pine plantations and Culbin Forest is an excellent place to observe it, within easy reach of the Wellhill carpark. It is ecto-mycorrhizal with pine and forms obvious sheets of lilaceous mycelium (vegetative state) between the organic and mineral soil layers.

Some people have used this to prepare dyes. It was the difference in colour between the dye of Sarcodon squamosus and Sarcodon imbricatus that alerted mycologists to the separation of these similar species.

Sarcodon squamosus is a priority species for conservation in Scotland and has a Biodiversity Action Plan along with a number of other stemmed tooth fungi. See the online Scottish BAP dossier project for Sarcodon squamosus to view or contribute current information about this species.