Conocybe puzzler

[SheffieldLass]

I found a Conocybe two days ago in sheep grazed unimproved acid grassland, growing in a patch of clover. It keys out in Funga Nordica and FAN to Conocybe macrospora (formerly Conocybe rubiginosa). But on checking further details this species does not have clamps, but I found a very clear one (they weren't frequent though).


cheilocystidia typical skittle shaped Conocybe ones
Basidia clearly 2 spored. Cap cells.
Clamp. Spores thick walled and with very distinct pore.

Caulocystidia skittle shaped
also some hair like caulocystidia (I think).

Spores (12.4) 14.9-17.3 (19.7) x (7.8) 8.4-9.5 (10.1) um Qav 1.8
Cheilocystidia heads 3.4-5um, base 7.2-11.1um, length 18-23.4um
Basidia 9-11.5 x 18-30um, 2 spored

If I assume that there are both skittle and hair shaped caulocystidia it takes it straight to C macrospora.
As there were definitely skittle caulocystidia, and assuming that I'd misread the microphoto and there weren't hair shaped caulocystidia, there is nothing that fits in this group anyway, as the spores are too big. (I measured spores from the stipipellis, so they should be representative)

So I'm puzzled . Any ideas where I've gone wrong?

Cheers
Melanie

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

So I'm puzzled . Any ideas where I've gone wrong?

Cheers
Melanie

you might not have gone wrong Melanie - never discount the possibility that you have found something new . . . I find several things each year among the weird little fungi I tend to look at that I am pretty sure are undescribed . . .

best

Chris