Flame Shield

Pluteus aurantiorugosus

The Flame Shield is a rare wood-rotting fungus known for its distinctive bright orange-red cap, which begins as convex and later flattens. The colour fades as the fungus matures. Its gills are free from the stem, initially white and transitioning to pink or brownish as the spores develop.  The stems are whitish near the top and orange towards the base. This mushroom typically grows on decaying wood, fallen logs, and tree stumps in deciduous forests, favouring ash, sycamore and elm wood.