An ID, if you will

[MundusVultDecipi]

Unfortunately, pictures of fungi speak far less than a thousand words, and I'm a terrible speaker, so go figure.
I'm "new" to this, if this is what you want to say, introduced by a nameless person.
As for the mushroom in question;



Fairly reluctant to touch anything, having a preconception that even a touch will have me dying a slow and painful death. The only thing I can say is that it was near a deciduous tree (I think…). None of them were higher than 22mm (not the trees ), and they appear somewhat like dropped scones…
I realise this isn't really much for an ID, but I appreciate any help you can offer.
I actually didn't want to destroy it, would've been a travesty.
Current camera is extremely limiting.

Cheers

[NickCantle]

Welcome to WAB! Must this nameless person remain nameless? Of course they should

Remember to get a shot of the gills and the stipe if you wish to have the ID spot on. If you're that reluctant to avoid touching it, wear gloves Looks to me like a Lactarius, which is a headache because it's a huge genus. If I had to have a stab in the dark, I'd say it was The Grey Milk cap - Lactarius vietus. I think it's way off the mark but I'm afraid there's not enough to go on in this situation. Are you sure it wasn't a scone?

Nick

P.s Don't worry, it gets easier

[MundusVultDecipi]

Thank you for the welcome.

Gloves, good idea! I'll make sure to get shots of the stipe and gills in the future.
On a similar note… My sense of smell is terrible, unless the smell is overpowering, so that's something which I may have 'difficulty' with.

P.S. The nameless one shall remain just that, so as not to embarrass.
I'm embarrassed by them, you see.

[NickCantle]

I do see

You'll have your first encounter with a Stinkhorn soon enough...you'll smell that alright

[Fungus Ken]

I can see why Nick would suggest Lactarius. For me the cap colour has too much of an orange/tawny hue to be Lacatarius vietus but colours in photos can be deceptive.

Nevertheless, I'd suggest this is probably Lepista flaccida, Tawny Funnel, rather than a Milkcap. Of course, a quick check for milk from the broken flesh would have resolved the issue (unless it was old and dry which it doesn't look to have been). The cap cuticle looks to be somewhat cartilaginous which would not be right for Lactarius. But there's no substitute for making all the necessary checks in the field.

If you aren't going to get physical with the mushrooms you find, including touching, picking and smelling, you aren't going to get far with identifying species!

Ken

[lauriek]

I didn't think you could be poisoned by touching any fungus (unless you stick your uncleaned fingers in your mouth immediately afterwards)? Hope I'm right because I poke and pick and break and sniff at least one specimen of nearly everything I find!!

[Fungus Ken]

I've never had a problem and I've handled the Death Cap on many occasions, as well as the Destroying Angel and various other very toxic mushrooms.

For Health and Safety reasons I advise people to wash their hands after touching mushrooms before eating their lunch ... but it's not advice I always follow myself.

Ken

[MundusVultDecipi]

If the area you touch them with has an open wound- susceptible to the poisons passing into your bloodstream- then you might want to worry. It's just that I worry a little too much, maybe.

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

If you aren't going to get physical with the mushrooms you find, including touching, picking and smelling, you aren't going to get far with identifying species!

Well I've only been out thrice; Give me time.
Indeed, monitor colours vary along with the parsing of the colour-profile of the image. The closest description I could give is a passing similarity to a dropped scone. A shade similar to terra cotta possibly?

There was certainly a depression in the centre and they were probably 'fresh', as I had visited the same area two days previous, and they weren't there then.

Thanks for the input!

[NickCantle]

Oh god, don't get me started