Fauna
Fungus

Sheathed Woodtuft

Kuehneromyces mutabilis

Also known as Changeable Pholiota, Two-toned Pholiota, Two-toned Woodtuft

Sheathed woodtufts are highly gregarious wood-decaying fungi that sprout in dense, overlapping clusters on decaying broadleaf logs and stumps. Their hygrophanous caps change color dramatically as they dry, transitioning from a deep, watery cinnamon brown to a pale, honey-yellow center. The stems feature a distinct cottony ring, below which the surface is covered in dark, recurved scales.

Wood-decayingHygrophanousCluster-forming
Sheathed Woodtuft reference1 / 7
(c) Dr. Hans-Günter Wagner, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDecaying Wood, Lignin, Cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus Gnats
  • Slugs
  • Collembolans
ThreatsHabitat loss and intensive forestry that removes deadwood
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodlands, and parks with rotting logs
Life spanMycelium lives for decades; individual mushrooms last 1 to 2 weeks
Classification
  1. FamilyStrophariaceae
  2. SpeciesKuehneromyces mutabilis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskModerate
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is moderate
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
This species strongly resembles the deadly poisonous funeral bell (Galerina marginata), which contains lethal amatoxins.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a scaly lower stem and a distinct ring, whereas the deadly look-alike has a smooth, silver-fibrous lower stem.
What to do
Never harvest or handle for consumption; observe safely on the wood without disturbing the delicate stem features.
Responsible observation
  • Examine the stem: Look for the distinct ring and the dark, recurved scales below it to help distinguish it from deadly look-alikes.
  • Observe color changes: Watch how the cap dries from the center outward, creating a striking two-toned appearance.
  • Check the substrate: Note that these mushrooms prefer decaying hardwood, particularly birch, beech, and oak.
Related species
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