Common names: scaly sawgill, Train Wrecker, Scaly Lentinus.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Neolentinus lepideus is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Neolentinus, until recently also widely known as Lentinus lepideus. Common names for it include scaly lentinus and train wrecker.
Neolentinus lepideus is a species of fungus that grows on dead or decaying wood, particularly coniferous trees. In East and Central Texas, it is commonly found on stumps, logs, and other woody debris, often in areas with abundant pine and cedar trees. The fungus produces fruiting bodies that are semicircular to fan-shaped, 2-8 cm in diameter, with a tough, leathery texture and a brown to grayish-brown color. The gills are crowded and white to light brown, and the spores are cylindrical and 4-6 μm long. Neolentinus lepideus is typically found during the spring and summer months in East and Central Texas, particularly in areas with rich soil and ample moisture.
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a rotten log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Texas, June 2, 2018
Young scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, Texas, June 9, 2018
Young scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a fallen tree on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, Texas, June 9, 2018
Gills of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, September 23, 2018
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, September 30, 2018
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville. Texas, March 30, 2019
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, June 29, 2019
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 28, 2019
Caps of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 28, 2019
Underside of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 28, 2019
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) in dew on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 31, 2019
Water drops, or guttation of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 31, 2019
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, March 7, 2020
Cap of scaly sawgill mushroom (Neolentinus lepideus) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, March 18, 2020
Mature scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, March 24, 2020
Scaly caps of sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on an oak stump in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, March 24, 2020
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) in Bastrop State Park. Bastrop, Texas, March 24, 2020
Scaly sawgill mushroom (Neolentinus lepideus) on a pine log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 16, 2020
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a lawn on Stubblefield Campground in Sam Houston National Forest. Montgomery, Texas, September 13, 2020
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a rotting pine on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, April 7, 2022
Spores of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) collected from a pine log in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, April 7, 2022
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on rotting pine wood on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, June 9, 2022
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on rotting pine wood on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 13, 2022
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a pine log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 13, 2022
Side view of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on a pine log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 13, 2022
Underside of scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 13, 2022
Scales on a cap of sawgill mushrooms Neolentinus lepideus on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, July 13, 2022
Scaly sawgill mushrooms (Neolentinus lepideus) on rotting pine wood on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, March 4, 2023
Scaly sawgill mushroom (Neolentinus lepideus) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, October 5, 2024
Underside of scaly sawgill mushroom (Neolentinus lepideus) on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, October 5, 2024
AI-generated summary of observations
The fungus Neolentinus lepideus was observed in East and Central Texas from 2018 to 2024. Most sightings were in Sam Houston National Forest, particularly on Caney Creek Trail and Little Lake Creek Loop Trail. The mushrooms were found growing on rotting logs, fallen trees, and pine wood. Observations were made during various months, with a concentration of sightings in spring and summer. Some observations noted the presence of dew, guttation, or spores. The mushrooms were often described as having scaly caps and were found in different stages of maturity. Additional sightings were recorded in Bastrop State Park and on a lawn in Stubblefield Campground. Overall, the observations suggest that Neolentinus lepideus is a common species in the region, thriving on decaying wood in forest environments. The data provides valuable information on its habitat and growth patterns.