This section is from the book "The Mushroom Book", by Nina L. Marshall. Also available from Amazon: Mushroom Book.
The genus Lentinus has white spores, no annulus, and no volva. The stem is central or lateral, and the lamellae are normally toothed on their margins. The species are leathery, fleshy, and tough; will stand drying, and revive when moist.
Lentinus lepideus is one cause of the decay of telegraph poles, railroad ties, and bridges.
Scaly Lentinus (Edible).
Lentinus lepideus
Cap or Pileus - Fleshy, firm, convex or expanded. Creamy white, spotted with dark brown appressed scales. 3-5 inches.
Gills or Lamella - Rather broad, not crowded; growing down the stem. White edges, irregularly toothed. Section of Stem or Stipe - Whitish. Sometimes ecL. lepideus
Len-tl'-nus Lep-Id'-e-la
Helmet Mycena (Edible).
[Mycena galericulata. Scop.) Cap greyish ; gills white; stems firm, hollow, hairy at the base. See p. 55
Scaly Lentinus (Edible) (Lenthuis lepideus. Fries. Nat. size.
White-spored Series centric, straight, or curved; firm, solid, equal, or tapering at the base. 2-4 inches long. Ring or Annulus - None. Spores - White. Flesh - White. Time - June to August. Habitat - On wood; common on railroad ties.
 
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