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Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body
Ermell · CC BY-SA 4.0
Poisonous

Sulphur tuft

Hypholoma fasciculare · Strophariaceae

Sulphur tuft is a poisonous, very bitter mushroom that grows in dense clusters on rotting stumps and roots, with a sulphur-yellow cap and greenish-yellow gills.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial team6 sources checkedReport a correction

FamilyStrophariaceae
SeasonFeb–Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct–Dec
Spore printPurple-brown
Cap width2–7 cm
Stem length4–10 cm
Records in Turkey50 records
CultivationWild only
StatusPoisonous

Sulphur tuft is a poisonous, very bitter mushroom that grows in dense clusters on rotting stumps and roots, with a sulphur-yellow cap and greenish-yellow gills. The gills darken with purple-brown spores as it ages, and it can be mistaken for honey fungus.

Also called: clustered woodlover Turkish: Kükürt sarısı demet mantarı

Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body

How to recognise it

Sulphur tuft, part by part

No volva Spore print: Purple-brown Not distinctive; the taste is very bitter.

Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body
Cap2–7 cm, convex to flat; sulphur yellow with an orange-brown centre; young caps carry veil remnants at the margin.
Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), gills under the cap, seen from below
GillsCrowded, adnate gills; greenish yellow at first, later olive and purple-brown.
Stem4–10 cm, slender and often curved; yellow above, orange-brown below; joined together in tufts.
Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body
RingNo true ring; a faint veil zone, darkened by spores, may remain on the stem.

When and where

Feb–Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct–Dec

  1. Jan
  2. Febin season
  3. Marin season
  4. Aprin season
  5. May
  6. Junin season
  7. Jul
  8. Augin season
  9. Sep
  10. Octin season
  11. Novin season
  12. Decin season

Sulphur tuft can be found for much of the year; Turkish GBIF records peak in October–November, with others in late winter and spring.

Type Poisonous

Months seen FebruaryMarchAprilJuneAugustOctoberNovemberDecember

Colour Yellow

Regions Black Sea RegionCentral Anatolia RegionMediterranean RegionAegean RegionMarmara RegionOrduOsmaniyeSamsunKastamonuBoluIstanbulKırklareli

Where does sulphur tuft grow?

It grows in crowded clusters on dead stumps, buried roots and rotting wood of both broadleaf trees and conifers, as a wood-decay (saprotrophic) fungus.

Where is sulphur tuft found in Turkey?

More than half of Turkey's sulphur tuft records come from the forests of İstanbul, with others from Kırklareli, Bolu, Düzce, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Kütahya, Ankara, İzmir and Muğla.

Which months

  1. Jan0
  2. Feb4
  3. Mar4
  4. Apr2
  5. May0
  6. Jun1
  7. Jul0
  8. Aug0
  9. Sep1
  10. Oct27
  11. Nov8
  12. Dec3

sulphur tuft map of Turkey: all provinces and months →

12 provinces, 50 observations (GBIF, iNaturalist); months from observation dates. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest sulphur tuft observations

Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), in its natural habitat
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What is it mistaken for?

Sulphur tuft can be mistaken for the species below. Each card shows the look-alike and how it differs from Sulphur tuft.

Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), whole fruiting body
This species Sulphur tuft
Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Sulphur tuft

Honey fungus Armillaria mellea

Honey fungus has a white spore print, a distinct ring on the stem and small dark scales on the cap, and its gills are cream-white rather than greenish. Sulphur tuft has greenish-yellow gills and a purple-brown spore print.

Conifer tuft (Hypholoma capnoides) Edible species

not Sulphur tuft

Conifer tuft Hypholoma capnoides

It grows only on conifer wood, its young gills are greyish-lilac rather than greenish, and it is not bitter. The two are so alike that it is not recommended for beginners.

Sheathed woodtuft (Kuehneromyces mutabilis) Edible species

not Sulphur tuft

Sheathed woodtuft Kuehneromyces mutabilis

Its cap looks two-toned as it dries, the stem is scaly below the ring and the spore print is rusty brown. It can also be confused with the deadly Galerina marginata, so great care is needed.

Deadly galerina (Galerina marginata), whole fruiting body Deadly

not Sulphur tuft

Deadly galerina Galerina marginata

It can grow on wood in the same places; its cap is honey-brown, the spore print rusty brown, and it contains amatoxins.

Poplar mushroom (Cyclocybe cylindracea), whole fruiting body Edible species

not Sulphur tuft

Poplar mushroom Cyclocybe cylindracea

The poplar mushroom clusters on poplar and willow wood, has a pale brown cap and a clear ring, and is not bitter. The sulphur tuft has a sulphur-yellow cap, no ring and a very bitter taste.

Glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Sulphur tuft

Glistening inkcap Coprinellus micaceus

It too grows in clusters around wood, but its cap is honey to mustard with glittering granules, its gills turn black and dissolve, and its flesh is not bitter.

Plums and custard (Tricholomopsis rutilans), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Sulphur tuft

Plums and custard Tricholomopsis rutilans

Plums and custard also grows on conifer stumps and has yellow gills, but its cap is covered in fine purple-red scales, its gills never turn greenish and its spore print is white. Sulphur tuft has a smooth cap and a purple-brown spore print.

Pale brittlestem (Candolleomyces candolleanus), whole fruiting body Inedible

not Sulphur tuft

Pale brittlestem Candolleomyces candolleanus

The pale brittlestem's cap and flesh are cream-brown rather than yellow, its stem is white and very brittle, and it is not bitter.

Toxins

The bitterness and toxicity of sulphur tuft are linked to compounds called fasciculols, some of which bind calmodulin. Source

Frequently asked questions

Is sulphur tuft poisonous?

Yes. It causes vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and visual disturbance and paralysis have been reported in severe cases. It tastes very bitter and cooking does not make it edible.

How do you identify sulphur tuft?

Dense clusters on stumps and roots, a sulphur-yellow cap with an orange centre, greenish-yellow gills, a purple-brown spore print and only a faint veil zone instead of a ring.

How is it different from honey fungus?

Honey fungus has a white spore print, a clear ring and dark cap scales. Sulphur tuft has greenish gills and a purple-brown spore print.

Does sulphur tuft have a Turkish name?

We could not find an established Turkish common name in the sources; Turkish Wikipedia also lists it under its Latin name. We use a descriptive name on this page.

Where does it grow in Turkey?

In woods with rotting stumps and roots. Most GBIF records come from İstanbul, with others from Kırklareli, Bolu, Düzce, Sinop, Samsun and Muğla.

When does it appear?

It can be seen for much of the year; Turkish records peak in October and November.

Is sulfur tuft the same as sulphur tuft?

Yes. Sulfur tuft is the American spelling of sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare). It is poisonous: sulphur-yellow caps in dense clusters on stumps, with greenish-yellow gills that darken to purple-brown as the spores ripen.

When is sulphur tuft season in Turkey?

In our calendar, sulphur tuft season runs Feb–Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct–Dec. Sulphur tuft can be found for much of the year; Turkish GBIF records peak in October–November, with others in late winter and spring.

Where does sulphur tuft grow?

It grows in crowded clusters on dead stumps, buried roots and rotting wood of both broadleaf trees and conifers, as a wood-decay (saprotrophic) fungus.

Where is sulphur tuft found in Turkey?

More than half of Turkey's sulphur tuft records come from the forests of İstanbul, with others from Kırklareli, Bolu, Düzce, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Kütahya, Ankara, İzmir and Muğla.

What can sulphur tuft be confused with?

Sulphur tuft can be confused with honey fungus (Armillaria mellea, edible species), conifer tuft (Hypholoma capnoides, edible species), sheathed woodtuft (Kuehneromyces mutabilis, edible species), deadly galerina (Galerina marginata, deadly), poplar mushroom (Cyclocybe cylindracea, edible species), glistening inkcap (Coprinellus micaceus, inedible), plums and custard (Tricholomopsis rutilans, inedible) and pale brittlestem (Candolleomyces candolleanus, inedible). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is sulphur tuft called in Turkish?

In Turkish, sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) is called Kükürt sarısı demet mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources

  1. Al-Salihi ve ark. (2021), Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology: Hypholoma fasciculare metabolom profili pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Wikipedia (EN): Hypholoma fasciculare en.wikipedia.org
  3. Vikipedi (TR): Hypholoma fasciculare tr.wikipedia.org
All sources (6)
  1. First Nature: Hypholoma fasciculare first-nature.com
  2. GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
  3. iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlemleri inaturalist.org
Photo credits (16)