Seeking Mushroom Identification

mackerg4 · #1 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 03:01 PM

Hi,

I'm brand new to this forum and absolutely no expert.

These mushrooms have been popping up in my garden (Herefordshire) for the last few days and I've looked through all the couple of books I have but can't identify them.

This one is a couple of days old and is approx 12cm from tip to toe. No particular smell (but my sense of smell is not the best). No colour anywhere.

The cap is definitely conical, albeit a bit 'bumpy'. Slightly sticky/slimey, more so when damp.

The stems are smooth and there's no sign of a ring, apart from what may be regarded a sort of ring at ground level. No bulb in the ground.

Any help appreciated.

Bob.

blewitt · #2 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 04:16 PM

hmmm...
Volvariella speciosa perhaps? (the volva is usu. buried)

mackerg4 · #3 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 04:34 PM

A web search makes it look like it could well be. If any more appear I'll leave them to mature and see if the gills turn pink.

Thanks for coming back.

Bob.

fairplay · #4 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 06:40 PM

Well done Blewitt - you got this one right, stay there while I put the flags out.

Neil.

KeenTeen17 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 06:48 PM

well done. the white mushrooms are always hard to ID. volvariella speciosa it is!

blewitt · #6 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fairplay

Well done Blewitt - you got this one right, stay there while I put the flags out.

i think you'll find i've been right before

so why not Geastrum fornicatum for that earthstar?

blewitt · #7 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 07:49 PM

Hey Bob, as everyone seems to be in agreement, you can now bag a new entry in the fungi database

List of British Fungi by Scientific Name | Wild About Britain

fairplay · #8 (**permalink**) 20-09-2008, 10:25 PM

Blewitt - it's all in the detail - you really must look more closely, an obvious one for starters is the upright posture of G. fornicatum, then try counting the number of rays. These are 2 very obvious differences.

Then comes the fine detail - look at the 'beek' in Julie's photo's, G.fornicatum doesn't have one.

Look at the faint collar around the base of the long stalk, this separates G.striatum from G.pectinatum.

You will just have to get some decent reference books or will have to be patient and evolve with this forum for a few more years.

It is just not possible to take short cuts when learning fungi, but one of the best ways to learn is to go on as many forays as you can - they will not always be led by experts, but it's only by hands on experience that you will learn.

Neil.