Found in straw under my squashes!

robolete · #1 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 01:15 PM

Hi Chaps - first post here and rapidly getting interested in all things fungi - found this underneath some fairly heavy foliage in my veg beds - they're raised and made of pine; I mulched with clean straw a month or so back; never seen anything like it in the garden.

Any ideas as to ID? Top was slightly slimy when I picked it; the fingerprints happen when I picked it, so must be delicate gills - they're dark brown, the mushroom generally is beigey with a darker patch near the stem and the top is slightly mottled. Thanks!

Rob

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 01:50 PM

Hi Rob!

This is Paxillus involutus

The ribbed ridges on the cap are quite an important characteristic for identifying this species.

Nick

robolete · #3 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 02:17 PM

Thanks Nick!

Chris Yeates · #4 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Hi Rob!

This is Paxillus involutus

The ribbed ridges on the cap are quite an important characteristic for identifying this species.

Nick

as is that brownish discoloration of the gills

Chris

(and welcome to WAB!)

Ditiola · #5 (**permalink**) 14-08-2010, 05:29 PM

as is the persistent in-rolled cap margin

Peter

robolete · #6 (**permalink**) 17-08-2010, 02:19 PM

Thanks all for your help, especially in the way you've picked out the key identifiers. I've just had a thought that this isn't perhaps the best thing to find growing in my veg beds(!), and wondered whether I should be taking any precautions - eg are the antigens likely to be in the soil, and if so, the veg? Does the mycelium contain the poisonous chemicals or just the fruit body? Again, any comments gratefully received.

Chris Yeates · #7 (**permalink**) 17-08-2010, 05:30 PM

hi

I would really think that your veg should be fine - unless the Paxillus was forming its mycorrhizal association with the squashes - which seems highly unlikely - are there trees nearby?

In addition the plants will in any case be metabolising any possible traces of nasties in the soil into other chemicals as they grow.

The times I would be wary are things like chicken of the woods Laetiporus sulphureus growing on yew, which it does not infrequently in Yorkshire; I would leave that well alone . . . . whoops

I'm lapsing into 'edibility mode' - I'll get me coat . . . .

cheers

Chris