Cliff-top grassland fungus id help

[SheffieldLass]

I found this on Saturday, at Scalby Ness, Scarborough, in grassland, about 3ft from the sea cliff edge. I can't decide its genus let alone the species, so all ideas very welcome ...

It seemed to be partially rooting, but I didn't have my knife with me, so dug it out with my fingers and didn't get the whole base or what it was rooting to. Smell was 'mushroomy'. Spores hyaline, I think they look a bit warty.
(6.4) 7-8.2 (8.8) x (5) 5.4-6.1 (6.4)um, Qav = 1.3
Clamps present. No obvious cheilocystidia.
The cap seems to stain darker where it is wetted and retains the darker colour when it has dried.
Cap cuticle looks hymeniform maybe, though it was not very clear. Flesh does not stain when cut.




basidia
spores (with stipipellis cells)
clamps (stipipellis)

cap cuticle

Melanie

[NickCantle]

Well as is the usual situation- If you can't nail it Mel, I can't even come close.

I did think Agrocybe, but I don't know if you've looked in to that.

[Chris Yeates]

hi Melanie

OK it's late at night so justification for a (really) silly question . . .

could it be Marasmius oreades ?

though possibly 'warty' spores and that hymenium (what angle was it cut at? - the right hand edge looks to be a cut edge so it's difficult to make out what's happening) do confuse the issue

spore-print colour?

best

C

[mollisia]

Hello ,

I also think it is just Marasmius oreades.
The spores don't seem to be warty to me, but full of oil drops. It happens very often that the granular content of hyalin spores is mistaken for a possible spore ornamentation. I think this is the case here too.

best regards,
Andreas

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

hi Melanie

OK it's late at night so justification for a (really) silly question . . .

could it be Marasmius oreades ?


best

C

Ahh, so I failed to recognise something really common .... Though it isn't common in my usual haunts, not seen it before. I think of Marasmius as little delicate-looking but wiry jobs on wood, so it didn't spring to mind.

And I've also spotted an omission in Archie McAdam's general key which was the one I was using ... it usually works well for me when I'm stumped about genus ... he hasn't got Marasmius in the key for white spored slender species cap to 3cm, otherwise I might have pinned it down. I've now pencilled it in. So if any of you use the same key, might be worth a note on yours.

Melanie

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello ,

I also think it is just Marasmius oreades.
The spores don't seem to be warty to me, but full of oil drops. It happens very often that the granular content of hyalin spores is mistaken for a possible spore ornamentation. I think this is the case here too.

best regards,
Andreas

I kept changing my mind as to whether they were warty or whether it was just an illusion created by the oil drops, so was keeping an open mind there .... I guess that is where the greater resolution of an oil immersion lens would come in handy for those like me with still an inexperienced eye.

Marasmius oreades fits spot on. Thanks.

Melanie

[NickCantle]

Kicking myself that I didn't suggest what came into my head first

It always works that way doesn't it?