Possible Coprinus jonesii

[CapAndBracket]

Found today amongst moss on an old bonfire site, all alone in the rain.

Cheers J.P.

[CapAndBracket]

1000X

Spores of the coprinus, seem to fit size range for Coprinus jonesii.

Cheers J.P.

[Fungus Ken]

To key out Coprinus accurately, as well as spore size and shape you also need to look at the shape of the cells in the veil on the cap for starters. There are generally quite a number of microscopic details you need to check to rule out look-alikes.

In Flora Agaricina Neerlandica Volume 6, Coprinopsis jonesii would key out as follows:

1. Pileus with veil
3. Veil mainly consisting of elongate elements
4. Veil abundant, loosely attached and easily removable from pileus; basidiocarps very small to small, a few medium-sized; stipe 1-4(6) mm wide
6. Veil made up of chains of smooth, thin-walled, filamentous to elongate, sometimes ellipsoid or a few almost globose elements with distinct end cells... Key Five

Key Five
1. Spores smooth
3. Basidia 4-spored
5. Habitat not growing on Ammophila arenaria in outer dunes
6. Veil of centre of pileus thin-walled, wall less than 0.5 microns thick
7. Veil white (silvery) grey, or grey brown (not cream, ochre, yellow, orange or orange-red)
10. Average spore length < 9.2 microns
11. Average spore breadth > 5.8 microns
12. Medium-sized species; spores with average Q < 1.3 (ie length divided by width); veil with elements of one kind: sausage-shaped in chains

So, if you have the patience, you could check that it keys out OK. In the notes it says, "The rather large basidiocarps with small spores are characters to identify C. jonesii".

Here's what the Basidiomycota Checklist has to say about C. jonesii:

"Habitat: On burnt soil and wood, also on charred plaster in houses, frequently sub-caespitose and rarely occuring singly.

Notes: Common and widespread. The type of Coprinus lagopides has recently been re-examined and found to have warted spores, hence this 'new' name for the smooth spored taxon until recently known as C. lagopides."

So it certainly seems a strong possibility based on the habitat and the shape of the spores in your photo. I can't really judge the size of the spores, myself.

Ken

[mykonik]

Maybe it's my eyes but some of those spores look sub-mitriform which would indicate Coprinus angulatus (or Coprinellus angulatus if you want to be politically correct !!) Just a thought !

[cybershot]

Good to see you are catching on to this game Nick Just shout if you need any advice

David