Omelette pan or bonfire

[Drumhorse]

These nice looking and smelling mushrooms are growing on the wood bark mulch put down in our garden to stop the weeds.

I have been through the books (no expert me) and can't find a certain match.

They haven't turned yellow in the last couple of hours. Maybe they are not natives - can't be sure about the provenance of the bark.

Would be very handy if they are edible - any ideas?

[Stewy]

Could be Cltocybe nebularis Clouded Funnel or Clouded Agaric.

[fairplay]

There are now rumours that just like Paxillus involutus,, this fungus too (Clitocybe nebularis) can build up poisonous toxins in your body over time and make you seriously ill. (Just a rumour so far)

You seem to be very confused regarding 'yellowing' - this 'poisonous indicator' only applies to Agaricus xanthoderma the Yellow Stainer, which bruises strong yellow within a few seconds.

You should have noticed that the gills too did not change to pink or chocolate brown which would suggest an Agaricus sp. - instead they would have remained an off white to yellowish colour.

Before you start to dabble with eating wild fungi, you need to find yourself a decent reference book such as by Michael Jordan or Roger Phillips and learn key identification points and be absolutely certain you know how to identify the poisonous ones.

Neil.

[Drumhorse]

Ta!

Thought it might be but better to be safe than sorry. The guide I referred to is "The Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and North-western Europe" by Marcel Bon. He notes that they are "eaten with impunity by some people, causing mild illness in others". Whilst I appear to be impune, I have to say that I have eaten better - "best avoided" is his further advice, "not worth the risk" is mine.

I do tend to eat the most obvious of mushrooms in the area - ones that I know well - but as this one seems to be taking over the garden I thought it worth the question.

Just off down the park to take the dog truffle hunting. Toodle pip!

[fairplay]

I should have kept me mouth shut - Bon = Phillips and Jordan together, plus it fits in yer pocket !!

Neil.