fungi id please?

[1973scotty]

I found this fungi growing next to my compost heap today and wondered what it was? I haven't see one like this before

I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands if thats any help





Thank you!

Rachel

[arvensis]

It is a species of 'Earthstar' - Geastrum genus but which one, I wouldn't know for sure because they aren't my strong point. Any offers on G. fornicatum?

Mark

[Fungalpunk]

What about Amanita - is that a bag at the base I see. If you check in a day or so I'm sure the stem will have extended somewhat? Just a thought.

[1973scotty]

thanks for your help.
I checked the fungi today and they havent really changed alot at all. there doesnt seem to be a stem growing yet but the brown bit looks alot duller (probably becasue it had been pouring with rain when i took the pics) . If it changes at all i will take some more pics ;O)

[Fungus Ken]

Since this one has popped up again because of the spam, I'll post what I said in the gallery under one of the unidentified photos.

"With the distinctive volva at the base I think this has to be an Amanita, and because the edge of the cap is not striate, I think it would be an Amanita with a ring on the stem (ie not one in the group with the grisettes).

There aren't many Amanitas I can think of with such a dark purple-brown cap. In fact the only one that springs to mind is Amanita porphyria. I have only ever seen this when it was more mature and the cap was much paler, but I imagine a fresh button could have a much deeper coloured cap such as the one in this photo.

So Amanita porphyria would be my guess."

And an easy way to check whether it will develop into something with gills and a cap would be to cut one in half. You can usually see the developing gills in cross-section.

Ken

[FungiJohn]

I've removed it Ken

John

[Fungus Ken]

On further thoughts, perhaps if it was an Amanita it would have a lot more of the universal veil on the cap at such a young stage.

So this might rule out Amanita!

As a wild stab, perhaps it could be a young Macrolepiota rhacodes?

Ken

[Xylaria]

I feel it maybe a cortinarius spp. Quite a few cortinarius have very sharp fat bulbulous bases to them. The slimy red brown cap is very typical too. It is too young for the cortina to be visable around the cap base.

[NickCantle]

I've no idea about the ID but a warm welcome to WAB Xylaria

Nick

[1973scotty]

well thank you all so much for your help

the dark cap did get slightly larger not quite so bulbous and cracks appeared in it if thats any help? it died off soon after.

Regards

Rachel

[Fungus Ken]

The photo below is what makes me suspect Macrolepiota rhacodes for your specimens:



If you look to the left of the next image you will see a button of Macrolepiota rhacodes which is unopened. The bulbous base was very similar to your specimens. The cap is dry, unlike yours but there is a strong similarity.



Your reference to the cap becoming paler and cracks appearing seems a clincher to me.

Ken

[NickCantle]

Blimey Ken. That's excellent. Fantastic deduction there squire...

Looks like you've solved it

Nick

[ecmyco]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

On further thoughts, perhaps if it was an Amanita it would have a lot more of the universal veil on the cap at such a young stage.

So this might rule out Amanita!

As a wild stab, perhaps it could be a young Macrolepiota rhacodes?

Ken

Hello, I definitely agree whith you

[ecmyco]

Originally Posted by ecmyco

Hello, I definitely agree whith you

Or Macrolepiota rhacodes var. hortensis ?

[Fungus Ken]

Yes, I'd agree with var hortensis except that Else Vellinga who is one of the leading experts on Macrolepiota says the following:

"Macrolepiota bohemica is often recognised as a separate taxon (either as a species, more often as a variety of M. rhacodes). As was shown by De Kok and Vellinga ..., all the characters used to distinguish the two species form a continuum, and vary independently. Preliminary molecular studies have failed to separate the two taxa. For a discussion on the name hortensis, also used for this taxon, see again De Kok and Vellinga..."

(Ref: Flora Agaricina Neerlandica 5, 2001)

So the leading expert says var hortensis can't be separated out on the basis of any consistent characters. Who am I to argue with the DNA?

Ken

[ecmyco]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

Yes, I'd agree with var hortensis except that Else Vellinga who is one of the leading experts on Macrolepiota says the following:

"Macrolepiota bohemica is often recognised as a separate taxon (either as a species, more often as a variety of M. rhacodes). As was shown by De Kok and Vellinga ..., all the characters used to distinguish the two species form a continuum, and vary independently. Preliminary molecular studies have failed to separate the two taxa. For a discussion on the name hortensis, also used for this taxon, see again De Kok and Vellinga..."

(Ref: Flora Agaricina Neerlandica 5, 2001)

So the leading expert says var hortensis can't be separated out on the basis of any consistent characters. Who am I to argue with the DNA?

Ken

I agree with this idea of continuum between the type and one "forma" hortensis (rather than one "variety"). I had seen all this continuum in a cemetery under Picea exelsa.
I present you the extrem forma, "hortensis" : here