mycena sp? ID help!

[Leif]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Leif
And even that is now no longer uracea but megaspora and it is not in the Swiss book, or the Collins book. What we need is a definitive list with detailed descriptions both macroscopic and microscopic of all species found and also those that might be found in the UK. and we would probably still not be able to id everything we find
Mal

Yes indeed, and that is why many people have a lot of reference books. I know one mycologist who claims to have a wall lined with mycology books.

Part of the problem is that for many species even the experts cannot agree among themselves. Many species described by the renowned late Peter Orton are no longer considered species, though he still has a fair few under his belt.

Maybe we should just stick to "a pretty mushroom" and leave it at that ...

[flaxton]

Leif (and Ken)
No.No.No.
There are some people on this site who would be happy just to be told the name of the fungi they have found (pretty or otherwise) but I suspect that most of us are also here to learn. Especially when we are able to pick the brains of such obviously experienced mycologists. As I said before I realise that just using a photo is always going to leave doubt as to the validity of an identification but these finds are not going to be logged on the national database. I/We don't want to only to be told what it might be but WHY it might be that. When it is pointed out that although the photo looks like species A if it is not on the right substrate or it is found at the wrong time of year it is unlikely to be that species.
So this is a plea to all the experienced mycologist (or mycophagist) out there come up with your best guess explain why and let the rest of us learn from you knowledge.
Someone from this site might be then so inspired that they become enthralled with mycology and eventually come up with that definitive book.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit but I think it is important.
Thanks

[Leif]

Flaxton: Feel better now?

Seriously though, the internet is a marvelous resource. And yes, I have learnt from this web site.

[Fungus Ken]

But even on this forum there is a lot more people can do to help the process of narrowing down the options.

At the risk of repeating the obvious for the nth time:

- Describe where the mushroom (or bracket etc) was growing (wider habitat) and what it was growing with or on (substrate or associated organism) in as much detail as you can.
- Describe any smell as best you can as soon as you pick your specimen or note that it didn't have a distinctive smell (and the taste of the flesh but only if you are certain it is safe to do so).
- Look for any obvious characters such as latex being exuded on being damaged, or colour changes on bruising or exposure of flesh to the air. Cutting down the middle and describing the initial colour of the flesh and any changes can be very helpful for some groups.
-Try to work out what the spore colour might be - you can sometimes see this on the gills with a hand lens, on the stem or on the caps of surrounding mushrooms etc ... or if not certain, take one home and do a spore print.
- Describe any distinctive features that are not obvious from the photo eg gill attachment, slimy cap, ring on the stem etc.

This all helps to reduce the margin for error.

Ken

[flaxton]

Thanks for that guys. I will shut up now
Mal

[Leif]

Yes Ken is quite right. It really is hard to make an id from a photo alone. Witness the number of times someone says "Well, I'm not so sure ...".

So if possible make a description at the time of collection. You might be surprised how much it helps. And you might be surprised how much they can change on getting back home. It helps to have some small plastic containers, so as to separate similar species, and to keep a little bit of paper with a number on with each specimen, and write that number on the description. That way you can tie up the notes with the specimens when you get back home.

And, once you start to make notes, you will start to see things you missed. It enriches the experience.

It is also fun to be able to drip 'milk' from a Lactarius onto a white tissue, and then watch as the colour changes from white to yellow, or green.

I have lost count of how many times I got a fungus home, only to narrow down the id to 2 species, one with tree X, the other with tree Y, and I did not record the nearby trees. Now I make notes.