Poison Pie? Golden Scalycap?

[alexhitchmough]

Hi everyone

It's been a while, but here I am again in need of some assistance! I found this mushroom a few days ago, and I'm making no progress with an ID. Maybe: Hebelona crustuliniforme (poison pie), Pholiota adiposa, or Pholiota aurivella (Golden scalycap), but I'm not confident at all.



Spores: Rusty dark brown, ellipsoid with droplets, 6x9.5µm
Habitat: Single specimen at the base of a beach tree
Cap:6cm wide, 2cm deep, golden colour, rough, maybe scaley?
Flesh: Fibrous, pale yellow
Taste:
Stem: 60x10mm, straight
Base: Straight, white
Gills: Free, thin, deep rusty brown

Any help greatly appreciated!
thanks
Alex

[diggleken]

I'll watch this with interest Alex to see what the experts say - what about a washed out P. flammans though?
Cheers
Ken

[Lancashire Lad]

Not H.cristiliniforme I think, as that would have whitish flesh, wouldn't be showing the distinct ring zone, and would have larger spores (9-13micron).

Your find has the overall look of a Pholiota, but P.adiposa would have smaller spores (5-6.5micron), and should have evidence of recurved scales on the stipe below the ring zone.

P.aurivella has similar spore size to your find, (7-10micron), but should also have evidence of recurved scales. - A single specimen on Beech would also seem odd as it is normally found clustered on conifer/hardwoods.

Ken's suggestion of P.flammans should also show recurved stipe scales, and it's spores are also smaller at (4-5microns).

Having said all that, I can't come up with anything that seems to entirely fit with what you've got. - So I too will be watching with interest to see what options are suggested.

Regards,
Mike.

[ashgale]

one of the Gymnopilus (or whatever they are called these days) species perhaps ?

ashgale

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by ashgale

one of the Gymnopilus (or whatever they are called these days) species perhaps ?

ashgale

Hi Ashgale, I too thought of Gymnopilus, but was put off by Phillips describing them as having slightly decurrent gills.

However, Jordan states Gymnopilus junonius has adnate/toothed gills - Are those gills definitely free Alex? - they do have the look of being "toothed"

If so, G.junonius might be a good fit (other than that too should be found with conifer).

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

unless it's a weird artefact those spores look distinctly ornamented (though Alex hasn't mentioned it) - so goodbye Pholiota

and it's clearly not a Hebeloma; I must admit Gymnopilus was my first thought when I saw the picture; with a ring like that and if those are indeed roughened spores it's Gymnopilus spectabilis for me

Chris

[alexhitchmough]

Hi guys, thanks for all the great suggestions.
Having a closer look at the gills they are slightly decurrent, also I missed the obvious ring around the stem, and the ormented spores (sorry my mycological skills are very rusty!)


Spores: Rusty dark brown, ellipsoid, ormented, 6x9.5µm
Habitat: Single specimen at the base of a beach tree
Cap:6cm wide, 2cm deep, golden colour, rough, maybe scaley?
Flesh: Fibrous, pale yellow
Taste:
Stem: 60x10mm, straight, ring 10mm from top
Base: Straight, white
Gills: Slightly decurrent, thin, deep rusty brown

From everyones help I'm now sure it's either Gymnopilus spectabilis or Gymnopilus junonius. How could I distinguish between them (chemicals\microsopy)?

thanks again
Alex

[stickman]

Originally Posted by alexhitchmough

From everyones help I'm now sure it's either Gymnopilus spectabilis or Gymnopilus junonius. How could I distinguish between them (chemicals\microsopy)?

thanks again
Alex

You don't need to - the two names refer to the same species!
Cheers, Nick.

[BROCSMAN]

How about Phaeolepiota aurea? The spore size is a bit small according to FN, and these are not so elongated as the FN drawing, but otherwise it looks a pretty good fit.

[alexhitchmough]

Hi Brocsman
Just had look in Phillips at Phaeolepiota aurea and it does look very close. Several points don't match though...

• Cap 12-25cm across
• Spore print yellowish-brown to orange buff
• Spores 10-14x6µm smooth to minutely roughened
• Gills adnate to free

I think I'm happier with Gymnopilus junonius but I'm still open to suggestions.
cheers
Alex