Mushroom ID please

[Schrooom]

I found a small cluster of them growing under a birch tree down our field in Northamptonshire. They are very slimy on top when wet, but when they dry, they are like leather. The gills are very orange and the cap on top is like tan. Also, it smells great - especially when it has dried a bit.

[Schrooom]

OK, I understand now! No external galleries...

[Ken Burgess]

Originally Posted by Schrooom

I don't know how to attach the photos of them in this box, but they can be found here

Your post will have been deleted because you asked about edibility, which is not allowed under the forum rules, and because you posted an external image.

Your specimen is actually a species of Paxillus, rather than a Lactarius.

Ken

[Schrooom]

Thanks, Ken. Can anyone identify which Paxillus it might be? Some rather toxic members of that group of mushrooms.

[Ken Burgess]

It's difficult to be sure from the information you have provided. What's left of the stem looks dark enough to be Tapinella atrotomentosa but that only grows on conifer wood. You said this was growing with birch. It looks unusual to me. Perhaps someone else will be able to get closer.

Ken

[Schrooom]

Originally Posted by Ken Burgess

It's difficult to be sure from the information you have provided. What's left of the stem looks dark enough to be Tapinella atrotomentosa but that only grows on conifer wood. You said this was growing with birch. It looks unusual to me. Perhaps someone else will be able to get closer.

Ken

What other information would help? I'm determined to identify it.

The stem was a bit longer, but not much. And was a tan colour. Also, the stem was not hollow.

Paxillus vernalis
is a possible candidate. And Tapinella atrotomentosa does look similar but neither of these two fit the bill completely.

A strange one indeed.

[Schrooom]

This is them before they were picked.

[fairplay]

If they were growing in very boggy soil, they could have been Paxillus rubicundula, but your grass shot does not seem damp enough so I think you just have an old P.involutus.

By the way Ken, T.atrotomentosa has been recorded about 3 times on Hardwood, I found it growing on Sweet Chestnut about 3 years ago, and I believe my find is the only authenticated record with voucher specimen (Wood attached) at Kew and possibly the world.

Neil.

[Schrooom]

To follow up my earlier posts, I had the mushrooms identified as Lepista Nuda (or Wood Blewit).

Here's a link to some pics... http://www.amanita-photolibrary.co.u...a_nuda_std.jpg

Looking forward to next year!

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by Schrooom

To follow up my earlier posts, I had the mushrooms identified as Lepista Nuda (or Wood Blewit).

Here's a link to some pics... http://www.amanita-photolibrary.co.u...a_nuda_std.jpg

Looking forward to next year!

I hope your eyesight is good enough to see the obvious difference between the 2 species.
I'm not even going to ask who 'identified' this as Wood Blewit.

Neil.