Brittlestem?

[GerryNick2]

At first I thought this was a small version of Psathyrella piluliformis but the more I look at the photo the more I become convinced it is something else. Therefore would welcome your views.

Growing on a Beech stump.
Cap dia. 3cm
Stem Height 4cm hollow.
Stem dia. 4mm

Gerry

[NickCantle]

That's what I'd have thought it was Gerry. What else do you think it might be?

[Andy Overall]

Originally Posted by GerryNick2

At first I thought this was a small version of Psathyrella piluliformis but the more I look at the photo the more I become convinced it is something else. Therefore would welcome your views.

Growing on a Beech stump.
Cap dia. 3cm
Stem Height 4cm hollow.
Stem dia. 4mm

Gerry

Hi Gerry,

I had something similar some years back, Mykonik put me onto P. laevissima it could be this. Unfortunately it doesn't appear in any of the popular fields guides such as Jordan & Phillips.

Andy

[GerryNick2]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

That's what I'd have thought it was Gerry. What else do you think it might be?

Hi Nick

No idea what it is hence this post, just does not look right for P.piluliformis. Far too diminutive and the pronounced striations in the cap don't look right.
Gerry

[GerryNick2]

Originally Posted by Andy Overall

Hi Gerry,

I had something similar some years back, Mykonik put me onto P. laevissima it could be this. Unfortunately it doesn't appear in any of the popular fields guides such as Jordan & Phillips.

Andy

Very interesting Andy. You are right there is very little information contained in the popular guides about Psathyrella laevissima (Romagn.) Singer, Beih. Nova Hedwigia 29: 197 (1969) first described in 1952 as Drosophila laevissima.

Apparantly it is fairly common and resembles a small P.piluliformis, is often confused with it hence the relatively small number of recordings. Grows on the decayed wood of deciduous trees especially Beech. Often found in old woodland such as the New Forest.

My find ticks some of the boxes, it certainly looked like a small version of P.piluliformis, growing on Beech stump and found in an ancient Beech wood. In the absence of further information difficult to be certain but does look to be a good contender for Psathyrella laevissima.

Gerry