Lepiota? ID welcome please

Kazzy D · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 03:30 PM

I found this today growing on the edge of open woodland. there were a few others nearby too. There was an adjacent field next to where I found it and there also appeared to be some growing there too. The ones in the field were about the same size although one was as big as a dinner plate. There were several growing in the same area. The fungus in my pic has a Stem which is about 18 cm and the cap diameter is 12.5 cm. No Bruising. Flesh white. I am new to fungus and still struggling with the basics, so please bear with me! I thought it could be macrolepiota procera, but it doesnt appear to have the typical "snakeskin" markings. Discounted Macrolepiota rhacodes as it doesnt bruise red. Thought it might also be lepiota magnispora but it doesnt have a shaggy/fleecy stem. Can anyone please help me to correctly identify this fungus? Am I on the right track or barking up the wrong tree? Thanks in anticipation.... Kazzy

ohgreatstew · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 04:40 PM

Hi Kazzy, and welcome to the WAB forum, it's great here you'll love it.... I am no expert and only recently joined myself but I would like to give this a go as I need the practice and there will be someone with an expert eye to come along soon and help both of us....
I would go for Macrolepiota purely from the size and appearance of the large ring on the stem, and judging from the clear brown cuticle in the centre of the cap I will say M. konrandii

Kazzy D · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Thanks for that, I agree its good to get some practice in. Dont know about you, but just when I think I'm getting the hang of it, I discover that im not really! Hard this identifying malarky, but i'm having fun too. Early days for me and lots to learn.....

fairplay · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 07:55 PM

I think M.konradii is likely to be the best guess.

Neil.

Kazzy D · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 09:19 PM

Thanks Neil, M.Konradii does seem to be the closest match, but the patternation on the top of the cap is bothering me a little as it doesnt look quite like all the other pics I have seen of this particular one. Having said that, I have checked out m.konradii on rogersmushrooms.com and Joseph Huggins has posted a pic that looks identical, his first one does anyway, the second not so.... I found it interesting that he took his pic in suffolk - I found mine on the Essex/Suffolk border.

mollisia · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 09:29 PM

Hello,

Macrolepiota - especially the procera-group - is one of the most tricky genera. Easy to recognize by the movable ring, but very difficult to come to a species name to which all mycologist would nodd their head ....

Macrolepiota konradii is interpreted in different ways. In (sw-)Germany an interpretation has been established, which certainly is something in the vicinity of Macrolepiota mastoidea-gracilenta. The same opinion is Else VELLINGA, but she has a very broad concept of M. mastoidea anyway.
My idea of konradii is the same as in FoS vol. 4, that means a species quite similar to M. procera, but of comperatively small size (for the genus), +/- girdled stipe and greyishbrown cap with small scales upon it, which can be rubbed away without damaging the cap surface. Sometimes the scales form a disc in the middle of the cap and sometimes it is even a starlike center. The dutch seem to call that one M. fuligineosquarrosa.

Your picture, with the given small size of the fruitbodies, looks very much like "my" konradii.

bestr egards,
Andreas

Kazzy D · #7 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 11:08 AM

Thanks Andreas, much appreciated. Your description certainly fits and I can indeed rub off the small scales without damaging the surface cap. I am glad you mentioned that the scales can form a disc in the centre as my example does because all the pictures I have seen of M.Konraddii have the "starlike" pattern, so I am encouraged to know it can also be disc shaped. Once again, many thanks....Kazzy