Flesh: with strong, pleasant but pungent smell, yellowish brown, soft in the cap, fibrous in the stem.
Spore-print: rich rust-brown.
Spores: medium-sized, pale brown under the microscope, smooth, ellipsoid, and 6-8 × 4 µm in size.
Marginal cystidia: spindle-shaped, hyaline, numerous.
Facial cystidia: flask-shaped with a small apical appendage and becoming rich yellow when immersed in solutions containing ammonia.
Habitat & Distribution: Common in clusters in woods, gardens or parks, on wood or at the base of the trunks of broad-leaved trees in summer and autumn.
Plate 10. Fleshy fungi: Spores white and borne on gills
![[Larger illustration]](#467779198995390083_illo061lg.png.id-1135188472818899153.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
General Information: Although rather a common easily recognisable and aesthetically pleasing fungus growing in its characteristic clusters at the base of trees, it is a weak parasite entering the living tissue after invading decayed areas of the tree. This is the reason why when branches are broken off trees by wind, snow or storms, they should be carefully trimmed to remove ragged edges and the wound treated with a protective tar to stop the entry of rain, cold and fungus spores. Other more destructive fungi may enter a tree through such wounds; P. squarrosa frequently attacks mountain ash or rowan.