Laccaria - information and ID

[RobSutton]

Having tested both my, and perhaps more importantly your, patience with recent forays into Entoloma, Russula and Conocybe I thought I'd keep it really simple today and look at this rather nice species that I found growing in moss (Sphagnum and Polytrichum both present) and leaf litter under Downy Birch.



It looked like a rather nice form of Laccaria laccata and following the key in Fungi of Switzerland I came out with var. pallidifolia on the basis of its near spherical spiny spores:

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I must admit though I've never seen one with the bright orange rim to the cap and wasn't sure whether this was an artifact caused as the caps dry out or whether it was of any greater significance. I also remember hearing (probably on WAB but I'm not sure) about revisions of this Genus taking place. Is this still an accepted identification or has it been superceded by recent changes or is it in fact something totally different?

Other info: cap up to 22mm diameter, basidia 4 spored, no cheliocystidia.

Yours

[Chris Yeates]

it is not a straightforward genus at times Rob . . . . it it helps, Funga Nordica comments (under L. laccata):

Note: var. pallidifolia with sp Q av = 1-1.1(-1.15) is far more common than var. laccata with sp Qav > 1.2, and Singer’s (1967) typification of L. laccata with the rare element should be reconsidered.

cheers

Chris