Pholiota aurivella, commonly known as the golden pholiota,[3] is a species of fungus in the family Strophariaceae that is found in native forest of New Zealand,[4] southern Canada, and in the United States. It is frequently found in the American West and Southwest, especially in late summer and fall. Most field guides list it as inedible,[3][5][6] with one reporting that it contains toxins which cause gastric upset.[7] According to David Arora, the taste resembles "marshmallows without the sugar."[2][3] It is sticky or slimy when moist and grows in clusters on live or dead trees.[6][3]
The cap colour is bright to golden yellow, viscid when young with relatively dark scales. The stem is pale, and scaly closer to the bottom.[2]
Pholiota limonella and its subspecies are very similar, seeming to differ only in the spores.[2]