A couple of Entoloma species

[RobSutton]

Struggling with a couple of Entoloma species - any ideas much appreciated as per usual.

Entoloma 1 - 25th July, growing in damp Birch woodland with various mosses such as Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus with Self Heal and Valerian. Cap up to c.4cm, no clamps seen, cheilocystidia not distinct or absent. Gills narrowly attached to almost free.



Spores:


Gill detail:




Entoloma 2 - 27th July, growing in Sphagnum under Downy Birch. Cap c 15mm, stipe had a few longish hairs, clamps present, cheilocystidia either absent or very simialr to Basidia.



Spores:


Gill detail:

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Struggling with a couple of Entoloma species - any ideas much appreciated as per usual.

Entoloma 1 - 25th July, growing in damp Birch woodland with various mosses such as Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus with Self Heal and Valerian. Cap up to c.4cm, no clamps seen, cheilocystidia not distinct or absent. Gills narrowly attached to almost free.



Spores:


Gill detail:




Entoloma 2 - 27th July, growing in Sphagnum under Downy Birch. Cap c 15mm, stipe had a few longish hairs, clamps present, cheilocystidia either absent or very simialr to Basidia.



Spores:


Gill detail:

I found possibly the same as your first one, under birch, heathy ride in the Forestry Commission plantation on July 23. Spores very like yours, no cheilocystidia or clamps that I could see, fibrous stem. Spore sizes:
(8.0) 8.2x10.2 (12.0) x (6.2) 6.9-8.1 (8.9) um
average 9.2x7.5um Qav 1.2
I made a very tentative id of Entoloma ventricosum but could be way out on that, more of a stab in the dark

Melanie

[RobSutton]

Hi Melanie

I got to a very similar point - certainly the same Key in Funga Nordica - for the first specimen. I then struggled a little at Couplet 6 in deciding whether it had a Q value of 1-1.2 or >1.2 with the average at 1.2 but a range from 1.1-1.3 I could have gone either way. I find measuring these Entoloma spores difficult - where exactly do you measure the length and width at? Then the apparent absence of clamps ruled out the options I would get to following both routes at couplet 6 - either E.sericeum or E.ventricosum?

Still getting nowhere with the second specimen though - pah!

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Hi Melanie

I got to a very similar point - certainly the same Key in Funga Nordica - for the first specimen. I then struggled a little at Couplet 6 in deciding whether it had a Q value of 1-1.2 or >1.2 with the average at 1.2 but a range from 1.1-1.3 I could have gone either way. I find measuring these Entoloma spores difficult - where exactly do you measure the length and width at? Then the apparent absence of clamps ruled out the options I would get to following both routes at couplet 6 - either E.sericeum or E.ventricosum?

Still getting nowhere with the second specimen though - pah!

Oh I've just checked, I thought there were no clamps when I answered, but looking through my micro pics discovered I'd eventually found one in the stipipellis that was clearly one. But the clamps were very rare indeed. That was the only one I found, and something also that I called a spur because I wasn't convinced it was a clamp, it looked a bit too big.

So you may have to spend a few more hours looking for a clamp that is convincing .....

I've got three Entolomas in today's box of goodies, I'm hoping they are all the same or that they are E conferendum

Melanie