Another one for ID

[waynehicks1]

I found this growing in a local cemetery a couple of days back. There were a few growing within a meter or so of each other. As you can see from the picture, it had quite a distinct color and seemed almost waxy to the touch, maybe due to the damp conditions, I don't know. It was growing amongst leaf litter, wood debris and moss.

This specimen was around 5-6cm in diameter.





Many thanks

Wayne

[Andy Overall]

Hi Wayne,
This may well be a late flush of St George's, Calocybe gambosa. I've seen them this late before. They look rather sodden and the brownish colour, where you have sliced the stem, could be a result of this soaking. Doesn't look lie much else that occurs this time of year with a smooth cap like that. However we are moving into the time of year when other similar species occur. The obvious species to be careful of is Inocybe erubescens which can occur during June and is more of woodland species as opposed to St Georges, which is more of a grassland species but can occur near woodland edges and open woodland. I. erubescens reddens, so if that brownish discolouration occurs anywhere else. The cap however will be more rimose, streaky, unlike that in the picture, which is very smooth. Other species to look out for are those of the genus Entoloma, such as Entoloma sinuatum both of these species are acutely toxic. Take a spore print if you can, if brown or pinkish you have a the latter, if cream then the former.

Hope this helps.

Andy

[flaxton]

I had a ring of St Georges only yesterday so they are still about.

Mal

[Andy Overall]

There you go.

[waynehicks1]

Well, I know St Georges mushrooms grow in this cemetery because I recorded them there only last month. The baseof the stem was whiter when I pulled it but then turned brown when I nipped the end off. The do seem to have taken on quite a bit of color. It's interesting to learn of the different stages that fungi go through and something for me to remember for future reference, if these are indeed Calocybe gambosa.

Thanks for supplying some alternatives Andy. I'll take a look through some of my books and see if any match up to this specimen.

Regards

Wayne

[fairplay]

Just a little useless tip Wayne - you mention after pulling up the mushroom, you then cut the tip off (then went on to photograph it).

It is much better for ID purposes, to show the fungus as complete as possible, as a bulbous base or colouring at the base could be the clincher sometimes for an ID.
Even attached mycelium is important as in the case of Megacollybia platyphylla.

Neil.

[waynehicks1]

Thanks Neil, that's been noted