Can you please help identify this fungi?

[John_Arran79]

Hi all,

I found these mushrooms in my garden yesterday whilst I was mowing the lawn. I was just wondering what type they were and if they are poisonous etc. I live just outside Warrington in North-West England in case that helps narrow down common fungi in the area??

Any help identifying them would be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[Ditiola]

Hi John

They belong to the genus Panaeolus and I am reasonably confident that they are; Panaeolus firmicola (P.ater in older books) although no doubt someone will correct me if there are other opinions. It is quite common in Lawns.

If you make a spore print (by placing a fresh cap onto white paper and covering to reduce de-hydration) the spores colour will be very dark brown, almost black.

Panaeolus are unusual in that the spore ripen unevenly on the surface of the gills so when observed carefully the gills appear slightly mottled rather than a uniform brown colour ( cut a cap in half to observe the face of the gills).

Some species of Panaeolus contain toxic substances, although I have not read of any fatalities, however you would need to research this further.

Peter

[John_Arran79]

Thanks for your help Peter.

It is the first time I have noticed them. Do you know if they cause damage to lawns?

[Ditiola]

No they will not damage your lawn

Peter

[fairplay]

These fungi would be feeding on the dead grasses thereby recycling nutrients back into your lawn, and being only mildly toxic, should be of no problem whatsoever. These would usually appear on regularly mown lawns.

Two common lawn fungi which can be problematic are the ring forming, Marasmius oreades, and the very toxic, Clitocybe rivulosa, but you simply mow over them as they will only be showing for a few months. The richer green circles are like Marmite - you either love them or hate them.

I guess the worst fungus to get on lawns is the so called "Snow Mould" or Microdochium nivale. This usually is a problem in the winter months when quite large circular patches of dead grass become noticeable. Dig it out and replace with new turf.
Don't mistake Snow Mould with the completely harmless Slime Mould, Mucilago crustacea which prefers taller grass anyway.

Neil.

[flaxton]

Don't talk about Snow Mould within earshot of golf club greenkeepers it has been a real problem over the last couple of years and caused untold damage to the precious "greens".

Mal

[John_Arran79]

Thank you all for your help.

John