Collybia species - ID help needed

[RobSutton]

Could this be a youngish Collybia species? The closest I can seem to get is Collybia dryophila which seems to fit generally but has spores that are the right general shape but come in a fair bit longer than those you see quoted in the literature. These come in at about 7.3-8.4µ x 3.4-4.0µ the books seem to suggest they should be 4.3-6.3µ x 2.7-3.2µ



Photographed at Malham Tarn under Beech
Cap 15-20m drying almost white from the centre and edge eventually
Stipe 60-70mm x 2-3mm fibrose
Gills crowded
Spore Print white
No distinctive smell I could detect or describe.



Am I getting the correct genus or are there any other genera/species I should consider?

Thanks once again.

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Could this be a youngish Collybia species? The closest I can seem to get is Collybia dryophila which seems to fit generally but has spores that are the right general shape but come in a fair bit longer than those you see quoted in the literature. These come in at about 7.3-8.4µ x 3.4-4.0µ the books seem to suggest they should be 4.3-6.3µ x 2.7-3.2µ



Photographed at Malham Tarn under Beech
Cap 15-20m drying almost white from the centre and edge eventually
Stipe 60-70mm x 2-3mm fibrose
Gills crowded
Spore Print white
No distinctive smell I could detect or describe.



Am I getting the correct genus or are there any other genera/species I should consider?

Thanks once again.

The lack of a bulbous stem base leads me away from Collybia (dryophila) Rob ... but to what, I'm not sure at the moment I'll muse a while

John

Edit : but on looking at Ken's image, they may well be Collybia dryophila!

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Could this be a youngish Collybia species? The closest I can seem to get is Collybia dryophila which seems to fit generally but has spores that are the right general shape but come in a fair bit longer than those you see quoted in the literature. These come in at about 7.3-8.4µ x 3.4-4.0µ the books seem to suggest they should be 4.3-6.3µ x 2.7-3.2µ



Photographed at Malham Tarn under Beech
Cap 15-20m drying almost white from the centre and edge eventually
Stipe 60-70mm x 2-3mm fibrose
Gills crowded
Spore Print white
No distinctive smell I could detect or describe.



Am I getting the correct genus or are there any other genera/species I should consider?

Thanks once again.

Maybe you should be looking toward Mycena?

Andy

[walk lightly]

mycena leptophylla
I guess because of the white rim.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by walk lightly

mycena leptophylla
I guess because of the white rim.

I don't know it was just a suggestion. I don't know of any Collybia that resemble those in the picture, maybe a very outside chance of C. confluens but I don't think so. They do remind me more of Mycena.

Andy

[RobSutton]

Thanks for the input so far folks - I must admit that when I first saw it I thought of a Mycena but the very tough and fibrous stem put me of that genus a bit. Back to the books I guess.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Thanks for the input so far folks - I must admit that when I first saw it I thought of a Mycena but the very tough and fibrous stem put me of that genus a bit. Back to the books I guess.

Rob, don't get sent on wild goose chase, Mycena was just a suggestion, it looks Mycenoid rather Collybioid though the tough stem may suggest something different. Take a look at the Cheilocystidia if you can, they should be of odd branched shapes for Mycena.

Andy

[RobSutton]

Thanks Andy - I had another look at these today - no pictures I'm afraid, but I think your earlier possibility of Collybia confluens might be right, if you look closely at the specimen on the left you can just about make out some white threads at the base. In the field this extended and became more obvious below the leaf litter as a definite white tomentum and there were numerous smaller stems starting to appear. At high magnification the stem in the photos also appears to have a slightly granular covering which sort of fits with some descriptions I've read. The spore size and shape certainly seems to fit confluens as well. Not had time to look for cheilocystidia yet.

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Thanks Andy - I had another look at these today - no pictures I'm afraid, but I think your earlier possibility of Collybia confluens might be right, if you look closely at the specimen on the left you can just about make out some white threads at the base. In the field this extended and became more obvious below the leaf litter as a definite white tomentum and there were numerous smaller stems starting to appear. At high magnification the stem in the photos also appears to have a slightly granular covering which sort of fits with some descriptions I've read. The spore size and shape certainly seems to fit confluens as well. Not had time to look for cheilocystidia yet.

Hi Rob,

If this does turn out to be C. confluens then it just goes to show how variable it can be, it is very hygrophanous, so it is understandable from that point. The connection of the stem to the cap is distinctive with this species, 'button-like'. Good Luck.

Andy