Melanotus (Psilocybe) horizontalis confirmation

[RobSutton]

Struggled with this one for a while, going off down Panellus, Sarcomyxa and Crepidotus routes but failing at various stages: colour of spores, shape of cheilocystidia etc but finally came up with a possible ID.

I think it is Melanotus horizontalis but it doesn't seem to feature widely in texts. The only description I've got (in Funga Nordica) seems to fit but if anybody is familiar with this species a quick confirmation (or otherwise) would be appreciated.







It was growing on the cut surface of a beech log c 6 years old. Cap was about 10-15mm across with a rudimentary and eccentric stipe. Spores were a rather dark purplish brown en masse.

Yours as ever

[fairplay]

I think you are spot on Rob, a nice find if Andreas agrees.

Neil.

[diggleken]

Hi Rob,
this may help - M. Horizontalis, Wood Oysterling find from last year, ID'd by Kew.
There are my pics in the Gallery from it too.
sawn wood fungus incomer?
Well found if so!
Mine appears more shaggy on the cap, but was in fairly dry conditions, so may well be more viscid if wet/exposed.
Cheers
Ken

[RobSutton]

Thanks Neil and Ken

I must admit mine looks rather different to the ones featured in your thread Ken (the ones that you linked to on Bioimages look closer). Mine were anything but dry. Like most we've had several weeks (feels like months) of on and off heavy rain and they had also been gotten to by the frost the preceding night. So maybe it's not to odd that they look different. The cheilocystidia certainly match those shown on the Bioimages site.

Originally Posted by diggleken

Hi Rob,
this may help - M. Horizontalis, Wood Oysterling find from last year, ID'd by Kew.
There are my pics in the Gallery from it too.
sawn wood fungus incomer?
Well found if so!
Mine appears more shaggy on the cap, but was in fairly dry conditions, so may well be more viscid if wet/exposed.
Cheers
Ken

[Ditiola]

Hi Rob
In the British Fungus Flora Vol 6 Pleaurotoid Agarics. Purple brown spores takes you straight to Melanotus, and your photo looks spot on to me, and according to Vol 5. Stophariacea: If it was on deciduous wood it will be M.horizontalis (H.proteus has amygdaliform spores and grows on coniferous wood)

I have attached my photo of the cap cuticle of M.horizontalis showing the encrusted hyphae.

Peter

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by Ditiola

Hi Rob
In the British Fungus Flora Vol 6 Pleaurotoid Agarics. Purple brown spores takes you straight to Melanotus, and your photo looks spot on to me, and according to Vol 5. Stophariacea: If it was on deciduous wood it will be M.horizontalis (H.proteus has amygdaliform spores and grows on coniferous wood)

I have attached my photo of the cap cuticle of M.horizontalis showing the encrusted hyphae.

Peter

Thanks Peter (and everyone else again) - it does seem like a good identification then, that's pleasing it took a while for me to work it all out.

Cheers