4 Mushroom IDs

[KeenTeen17]

All these are from last year:
1) Is this amanita rubuscens?

2) psathyrella sp?

3) not sure because of bad photo

4) this one is quite weird because it had a real cone on top of the cap which was relatively flat

[NickCantle]

1. A. rubescens
2. Unsure
3. Unsure
4. Paxillus involutus

Nick

[KeenTeen17]

thank you!!! I have been meaning to put a name to number 4 for ages!

[fairplay]

Hi KT,

No 2. may be a dark capped (waterlogged ?) Lacrymaria lacrymabunda

Not totally convinced No 4. is Paxillus involutus, not much else it can be though.

Neil.

[NickCantle]

It's one of those ones I recognise immediately- there's a very distinctive pattern on the cap edge that is typical of Paxillus involutus and KT's specimen has it (albeit rather faint). Note the stem as well, it's obviously been cut or damaged and has bruised the typical dark reddish colour that this species bruises.

[Nick_in_Scotland]

I think 2 & 3 are different types of Coprinus (or Coprinellus or whatever they're called these days). Specifically I'd say that 3 is C. micaceus, although the cap is usually lighter. To confirm this you would need to look at the cap in sunlight and you would see tiny sparkly particles of mica as you turned it in the light, hence the latin name and its common name Glistening Ink Cap. I always like the challenge of photographing this effect which usually involves me lying on the ground getting dusty or muddy as I try and get the angle with the camera right.

I disagree with Nick (sorry Nick ) about 4 being Paxillus involutus because the colour is all wrong to me, especially the stem which looks white to my eyes apart from the bruise. I first thought it looks like a green Russula but the spike on the cap doesn't make sense. I was going to say you need to go back, knock it over and photograph the underside of the cap but then I noticed you said they were from last year, so let's hope this doesn't start an argument .

Nick.

[NickCantle]

You're allowed to disagree

The colour in P. involutus is variable, look through the WAB galleries.







The umbonate cap is quite common in the species too as is shown here in FJ's image;



Nick.

[Nick_in_Scotland]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

The umbonate cap is quite common in the species too as is shown here in FJ's image;

And the colouring is quite similar too. I notice in the pictures that the stem tapers- becoming thinner as it reaches the ground. Unfortunately in Keenteen's photo the bottom of the stem is hidden in leaf litter. So I'm very much swayed but not convinced .

Nick.

[fairplay]

I'm afraid I'm going to gang up on you Nick in Scotland

Going back to photo No 2. - look at the top big one, notice how the overhanging cap margin is sticking to the smaller cap on our right, very characteristic of L.lacrymabunda - I rest my case m'lord.

And (I ain't finished yet !).... and I think Nick C. is right with Paxillus (I'm only saying that because we are finally going to meet up on Saturday afternoon - you ain't forgotten I hope Nick ?)

Neil.

[NickCantle]

I haven't forgotten mate, I'm looking forward to it

Nick, Re: P. involutus. KT's photo does indeed show the stem as not being tapered but as I'm sure you know, the literature is all a guide and there are many differences from specimen to specimen.

It's like if you put a picture of a Cep up and I said, "Well that base isn't bulbous so I don't think it's a Cep"- You'd say "But not all Ceps have bulbous stems!" I don't know if that helps you understand what I mean

Nick