Coprinus comments welcomed

[watsthat]

I found this last October in a meadow grazed by cattle and I think I can see dung in the picture. Are the wooly remnants diagnostic? Any comments warmly appreciated.



Pete

[SheffieldLass]

Nice photo as they are still looking very fresh. The fibrous/woolly veil means you can rule out the powdery ones, but that still leaves a lot . From there you need microscopy, (or at least I would ) to get to species level. The former Coprinus like this one now come under Coprinopsis.

Melanie

[mollisia]

Hello,

this one belongs to a group of Corpinus species, which I'm particularily interested in: Section Veliiformes, subsection Narcoticus. They are marvellous to look at in the microscope, because they have spores with a loosening perispore, which floats around the spore like a coat, and which gives the spores an appearance like the silhouette of a rocket.
They all are uncommon to rare, and severals species grow in unfertilized meadows, often in quit wet ones. The best known species in that ghroup is a little one from muddy places: Coprinus narcoticus. It has a very strong, unpleasant smell. Another one occures always on the cutting surface of truncs of decidous trees: Coprinus laanii, Still others grow on dung: E.g. C. stercoreus. And lastely that group in unfertilized meadows, with C. semitalis C. cinereofloccosus and C. martinii. C. semitalis is the most common in my opinion (or better: the least rare ...) and is best characterized by its two spored basidia. Spore size, broadness of the floating perispor and smell are further important characteristics for that intersting group.
I think, out there are more species then described .....

bestr egards,
Andreas

[watsthat]

Thankyou Melanie and thanks Andreas for sharing your very interesting comments. I will file them away with my picture if that is OK? (By the way, the meadow in question would be un-fertilised apart from sheep and cow dung).


Pete

[mollisia]

Originally Posted by watsthat

I will file them away with my picture if that is OK? (By the way, the meadow in question would be un-fertilised apart from sheep and cow dung).
Pete

Hello Pete,

of course o.k.
To my experience those sepcies from this section need unfertilised, but extensively grazed meadows. They are not that nitrophob as Hygrocybe species may be, but often occure in their neighborhood.

best regards,
Andreas

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello Pete,

of course o.k.
To my experience those sepcies from this section need unfertilised, but extensively grazed meadows. They are not that nitrophob as Hygrocybe species may be, but often occure in their neighborhood.

best regards,
Andreas

That is certainly true of the two places where I have found them. One is just sheep grazed, the other sheep and cattle. Both are unimproved grassland. Both have Hygrocybe and Entoloma.

Melanie

[watsthat]

Here is another one that may be of interest. Its from my back garden, a very impoverished lawn mainly comprising moss, clover and daisies.



Pete

[Ditiola]

Are the spore Black or Brown?

Did it disolve into ink?

If the spores are brown and it did not disolve it is most likely to be Conocybe lactea

Peter

[mollisia]

Hello,

yes, Peter is right, this is certainly Conocybe lactea, now called Conocybe albipes.

best regards,
Andreas

[watsthat]

Thanks again Peter and Andreas

Pete