Golden Bootleg; Golden Cap
Among the most spectacular of all forest mushrooms, the seldom-encountered species can reach 20cm tall with caps up to 30 cm across. When found it is often in large groups and near nettles. Frequently it is encounterd roadside near a nettle stand. the caps are orange, with a powdery whitish veneer, dome-shaped with inrolled margins. The stems are orangy white and the gills pale orange or whitish orange. The stipe bears a skirtlike hanging ring. It is an consumed edible in Russia and China, and has been collected for the table in North America, but studies have shown it concentrates cadmium and cyanide. The cyanide gives it a pleasing almond-like odor when harvested. The cyanide cooks away fortunately, but the mushroom still causes indigestion in some people and the fact of concentrating heavy metals should give mycophagists pause. The fungus is the sole member of the family Squamanitaceae. There is no confusing it with any other species.