Fauna
Fungus

Sulphur Tuft

Hypholoma fasciculare

Also known as Clustered Woodlover, Sulfur Tuft

Sulphur tufts grow in dense, crowded clusters on decaying stumps and buried wood across temperate forests. Their vibrant sulfur-yellow caps fade to orange-brown at the center, with yellowish gills that darken to a distinctive purplish-brown as spores mature. As essential saprotrophs, these fungi play a vital role in recycling nutrients by breaking down dead hardwood and conifer timber.

SaprotrophicPoisonousCluster-forming
Sulphur Tuft reference1 / 7
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDead wood, Lignin, Cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus gnats
  • Slugs
  • Springtails
ThreatsWidespread and secure
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous woodlands, forests, and parks
Life spanFruiting bodies last 1 to 2 weeks; mycelium lives for years
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyStrophariaceae
  3. GenusHypholoma
  4. SpeciesHypholoma fasciculare
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Highly poisonous if ingested; wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes and should never be eaten based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Contains fasciculol toxins that trigger severe gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, and potential organ damage.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for bright sulfur-yellow caps in dense clumps on dead wood with greenish-yellow gills that turn purplish-black.
What to do
Safe to observe and photograph, but wash hands after touching and never ingest wild fungi.
Responsible observation
  • Cluster pattern: Inspect the base of tree stumps in autumn to find dense tufts springing from rotting roots.
  • Spore prints: Place a cap on white paper overnight to reveal its characteristic purplish-brown spore print.
Related species
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