Help with Mycena ID

[RobSutton]

Struggling with a couple of Mycena species (though I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same species) growing on dead trees at Malham Tarn.

The first was growing on what I think was a dead Beech (though possibly Sycamore - it was well past it's fell by date).





The second was on Ash.





They were both fairly small - 1cm - 1.5cm cap diameter for the first and a maximum of 2cm for the second, did not bleed and didn't seem to have any distinctive smell. They both had fairly small spores which rules out Mycena galericulata I think and I start struggling then. None of the other descriptions seem to match either the stipe colour is wrong or they are found on different species of tree or something else is wrong. I haven't mastered the art of looking for cheilocystidia so can't help there.

Any suggestions of possibilities I should check out?

Thanks

[flaxton]

Rob
The second one looks like arcangeliana but the first would need more details such as the cheilocystidia.
Mal

[RobSutton]

Thanks Mal - I'll have to hone up those microscope skills Is there a relatively straightforward book/article whatever on fungal microscopy?

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Thanks Mal - I'll have to hone up those microscope skills Is there a relatively straightforward book/article whatever on fungal microscopy?

The BMS do a booklet on microscopic identification but How to Identify Mushrooms to Genus III: Microscopic Features. (Mad River Press Inc., Eureka is an excelent book.

Mal

[RobSutton]

Thanks Mal

I'll try and get hold of a copy - with mosses (what I usually use the microscope for) it's easy you just take of a leaf, mount it in water any there it all is. These fungi are much more complex with chemicals and stains and all that palaver but needs must I guess.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Thanks Mal

I'll try and get hold of a copy - with mosses (what I usually use the microscope for) it's easy you just take of a leaf, mount it in water any there it all is. These fungi are much more complex with chemicals and stains and all that palaver but needs must I guess.

With Mycena as with a few other genus you can id some with macroscopic details but a microscope is esential for most

Mal