Unidentified fungi found in Hainault Forest

Rob442 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2011, 09:05 PM

We found this and are having a problem identifying it. Found on forest floor in Hainault Forest, Essex. It is a beautiful specimen and would really appreciate help. Thanks,

Chris Yeates · #2 (**permalink**) 09-11-2011, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob442

We found this and are having a problem identifying it. Found on forest floor in Hainault Forest, Essex. It is a beautiful specimen and would really appreciate help. Thanks,

hi Rob

welcome to WAB; I'm not surprised you found it difficult to name - it looks very like a Clitocybe species and there are several species which appear in late autumn and which look rather like this

they are difficult to name - even microscopy doesn't help much for once; others with more experience may be able to suggest a name, but the rather contorted fruit-bodies - although quite aesthetic - only complicate things

cheers

Chris

btw it's a fungus - these are clearly two individuals of the same species

Ken Burgess · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2011, 05:20 PM

Sometimes microscopy can help. For example, the colour and texture of the cap cuticle have the look of Clitocybe phaeophthalma, which has distinctive swollen cells in the cap cuticle that provide quick confirmation under the microscope.

That species has a distinctive smell (described by some authors as of chicken coops) but without further information, including any distinctive smells and a view of the stem and gill attachment, this will have to remain as Clitocybe sp., as Chris has said.

Ken

Rob442 · #4 (**permalink**) 16-11-2011, 09:13 PM

Hi Chris,
Many thanks for the welcome and your suggestion. I have done some research (well, I looked at some pictures of Clitocybe) and it looks in the right ball park. I see what you mean about the difficulty in being any more specific. I am just happy finding out the general species. Appreciate your help,

Cheers,

Rob