roll up edge

[sweet rocket]

I found this in the grass, in the shade, beside a fallen tree.The young fruiting bodies are plainly conical. The older ones flatten slightly and the outer edge rolls up. Can anybody help to identify this fungus?

[fairplay]

Not enough detail is shown to make an ID, but it is a type of what used to be called 'Ink Cap'.

Neil.

[sweet rocket]

Thanks for your input. I've had a look at inkcaps but they're not really similar enough. This fungus did not dissolve in the way that ink caps do. The rolled edge was very neat and very much a feature in each fruiting body as they aged

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by sweet rocket

Thanks for your input. I've had a look at inkcaps but they're not really similar enough. This fungus did not dissolve in the way that ink caps do. The rolled edge was very neat and very much a feature in each fruiting body as they aged

when you say you have had a look at inkcaps, do you mean you have looked at ink-caps or looked at some pictures?

if we take the old genus Coprinus there are well over 120 species recorded for the British Isles and they do everything from dissolving completely to not going inky at all . . . .

Neil (who has many years of experience of looking at actual fungi, in the field and under the microscope) has said all one can say based on the evidence of this photograph; for most Coprinus / Coprinellus / Coprinopsis / Parasola species you need to study microscopic details of the veil on the cap (if it has a veil) and the size and shape of the spores . . . . the classic rim-roller is Coprinopsis lagopus http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/research...gy/coplag2.jpg - but from what one can see here you will never get an ID to species level - it's not an easy group

cheers

Chris

[sweet rocket]

Thank you chris for such a detailed response. Absolutely right about relying on photos and lacking field experience. However, lacking anything better at present for reference, and after looking at some illustrations of the species suggested, I think coprinopsis atramentaria comes closest, coprinus comatus is too "shaggy". Close is probably the best I can hope for, if the next steps involve microscopic studies. Its such a vast subject I'll probably only skim the surface but even that is fascinating.

[fairplay]

I'm tempted to say "Hmmmm, best we leave it at that"
But if this were a guessing game, you would be very 'cold'

Chris mentions a possible 120 to consider, and even dares to suggest (and probably correctly) Coprinopsis lagopus and you now come back with C.atromentarius.

Hmmmm, best we say no more.

Neil.

[sweet rocket]

I very much appreciated Chris's suggestions and checked each of them in turn and thoroughly enjoyed the amazing variety that came to light. Illustrations of Coprinopsis Lagopus suggested a delicacy and frailty that was lacking in the fungus in question. I came across Coprinopsis Nivea and thought it a possibility. Really, I need a better, more detailed photographic record of the fungus in question.