Panaeolus ?

Lancashire Lad · #1 (**permalink**) 30-05-2009, 11:57 AM

Found these yesterday, growing as a widely scattered troop of about 40 individuals, on a horse dung heap at a farm.

Fruitbodies all appeared to be of the same type of fungus, with specimens ranging from just emerged to very old.

Nearest I can get to an ID appears to be Panaeolus semiovatus - Egghead Mottlegill, but the physical size of some of these seems on the large side for that - Largest were easily 18cm tall, with caps 75-80mm across.

Any help with ID confirmation/other much appreciated.

Regards
Mike

flaxton · #2 (**permalink**) 30-05-2009, 04:29 PM

Mike
Panaeolus semiovatus can be that size and a bit more so you are right with your id.

Mal

Lancashire Lad · #3 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 05:30 PM

Thanks Mal,

I thought logically, they should be Panaeolus semiovatus, but i've never found them anywhere near this size previously.

I was thrown slightly by the details in Jordan & Phillips, which (both) say they grow to 100mm stipe, with 60mm cap - which is considerably less than these were.

Regards
Mike.

ron1863 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 05:47 PM

Cheers Mike, I was going to put this one up for ID but I think it's the same as yours (probably wrong again though

). Found growing on high moorland from an old cow pat. There were hundreds in a small area but mostly old or dried up and very large specimens as it has been hot and sunny for the past few days.

Excuse the bad photograph but I had accidently set the ISO at 1500 on a very sunny day

and only realised later - a good lesson for me - check first.

Lancashire Lad · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 05:52 PM

Hi Ron,

Looks a cert. for Panaeolus semiovatus to me. - Identical to the ones I found. My previous (but smaller) ones were also found on cow dung, so habitat's right.

Regards
Mike.

ron1863 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 05:55 PM

Cheers Mike and I wasn't even looking for fungi that day but couldn't miss them as they large and numerous.

Ron

flaxton · #7 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Thanks Mal,

I thought logically, they should be Panaeolus semiovatus, but i've never found them anywhere near this size previously.

I was thrown slightly by the details in Jordan & Phillips, which (both) say they grow to 100mm stipe, with 60mm cap - which is considerably less than these were.

Regards
Mike.

Mike

Bon gives the maximum as 150mm

FoS 150mm

Courtecuisse 180mm

but Funga Nordica goes for the full 200mm

Mal

mollisia · #8 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 09:28 PM

Hello,

yes for the Panaeolus semiovatus, which is the only Pnaeolus with a sticky cap.
But the last two pictures show another Panaeolus species, may be even two different ones.

best regards,
Andreas

SheffieldLass · #9 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Thanks Mal,

I thought logically, they should be Panaeolus semiovatus, but i've never found them anywhere near this size previously.

I was thrown slightly by the details in Jordan & Phillips, which (both) say they grow to 100mm stipe, with 60mm cap - which is considerably less than these were.

Regards
Mike.

These were some grand ones I found last year. I didn't pick the biggest (the one in the foreground), it was too beautiful, but the next biggest is the one shown on the A4 sheet of paper (with a comparative tiddler) which should give an idea of the size. They were certainly whoppers ...

Melanie

Lancashire Lad · #10 (**permalink**) 02-06-2009, 10:24 PM

Hi Andreas,

The last two photos were included as I thought they showed the same P.semiovatus firstly having dried out, and finally beginning to rot. (They were amongst the same troop).

I didn't consider that they might be a different species, so didn't take any further pics of those particular specimens.

Regards
Mike.

Phungus · #11 (**permalink**) 14-06-2009, 07:53 AM

Nobody has mentioned Panaeolus Campanulatus which is the obvious named for a Panaeolus with a bell shaped cap.

I know I am a little late to this party but I do wonder why such an obvious name is not mentioned?

mollisia · #12 (**permalink**) 15-06-2009, 09:44 PM

Hello,

Panaeolus campanulatus is a synonym to Panaeolus papillionaceus. P. sphinctrinus is another synonym.
Nearly all species of Panaeolus have a campanulate cap, so this is not significant for just C. campanulatus.

The Panaeolus shown abouve has a greasy to slimy cap which is only so in P. semiovatus.
The two last pictures are not clear what they are, but at least teh frist of these two is not P. papillionaceus due to the colour, the dehydration and the totally missing veil remnants. To the last foto I have no opinion, but it may be the same as the one before.

best regards,
Andreas

Phungus · #13 (**permalink**) 15-06-2009, 09:55 PM

Many thanks Andreas for continuing my education.
This site has only made it more difficult for me to find people willing to walk in the counrtyside with me. They all seem to believe that covering ground is the important thing. I can walk for 3 or 4 hours and not cover a mile

How could anybody pass by all the mysterious things lurking beneath their feet without stoping to take a closer look, especially when Mushrooms can save the world!
Paul Stamets on 6 ways mushrooms can save the world

ron1863 · #14 (**permalink**) 15-06-2009, 10:01 PM

I know what you mean Phungus, I can spend several hours walking for just a few miles, stopping every few yards to investigate or take photographs. It's great and time means nothing

Chris Yeates · #15 (**permalink**) 15-06-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

I know what you mean Phungus, I can spend several hours walking for just a few miles, stopping every few yards to investigate or take photographs. It's great and time means nothing

. . . is the right answer

- spot on Ron!

Chris