Interesting(!?) Psathyrella

[SheffieldLass]

I decided to bite the bullet after Mike's recent post of Psathyrella on woodchips, and check again the Psathyrella that have been fruiting in their thousands (probably millions, given that they've been fruiting in abundance since July) on a set of Picea/Betula woodchip piles near me. So I braved a snow blizzard yesterday to get a pick of the current crop. Apologies for the not very good photos (and off-site shots), but the light deteriorated ...



I'd been wondering if there were a few different species, or all the same, as colourwise they were extremely variable, but they'd be in groups of one colour, rather than mixed. And some had obvious rings/ring zones, others without obvious ones.

There were a few very pale ones, appearing on one particular heap, (sharing it with some rather red ones). First taken yesterday, second on Sept 30.

These had obvious veils and ring zones, the ring remnants going somewhat dark (partly from the spores, but also seemingly how they turn).


These brown ones were the most common shade:

The rings/ring zones were not so obvious on most of these, but can be seen on one here, again appearing darkish. First pic taken on Sept 30, other two were yesterday.


The next most common shade was tan (taken yesterday):


Then there were some dark red-brown ones. These seemed to have noticeable rings/ring zones.

First take on Sept 30, second yesterday.

Micro details on the next post (too many images for one post )

Melanie

[SheffieldLass]

Well microscopically they are near identical. The only difference I could see was the amount of pigment.

So for spores, which have indistinct pores:
Pale Brown Red brown

All the same size:
(5.2) 5.5 - 6.2 (6.4) x (3.4) 3.6 - 4.1 (4.4) Qav 1.7 Pale

(5.8) 5.9 - 6.4 (6.6) x (3.5) 3.6 - 4.0 (4.3) Qav 1.6 Brown

(5.4) 5.7 - 6.2 (6.6) x (3.4) 3.6 - 4.0 (4.1) Qav 1.7 Red brown


Cheilocystidia predominantly spheropedunculate:
Pale Brown red brown


And the pleurocystidia of each included some with a distinctive rostrum:

Pale Brown Red brown

So I'm sure they are all the same species. Though still not quite sure which one .

They have abundant clamps. Smell pleasant, mild but undistinctive.
Veil cells :



So all suggestions for a species name very welcome ....

And these are a good example where colour is not a reliable feature, as Chris is always very ready to remind us ...

Melanie