Paneolus or Mottlegill? and Mycena

[waxcap]

Hi

could any one give me an idea what these might be. The first is very common here on grazed grass/heathland 5-6cm high 1.5 cm cap with rust-brown gills. The second is not so common and I was thinking it was a Mycena. Foun on similar grassland








Many thanks
Dave

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by waxcap

Hi

could any one give me an idea what these might be. The first is very common here on grazed grass/heathland 5-6cm high 1.5 cm cap with rust-brown gills. The second is not so common and I was thinking it was a Mycena. Foun on similar grassland








Many thanks
Dave

A spore-print would have helped in the case of the first one! But gill colour alone should rule out Panaeolus . . . . it's a Conocybe - impossible to take further on the evidence here. Check out my ramblings here: Wood Blewit?

the Mycena is possibly M. aetites, but again . . .

cheers

Chris

[waxcap]

Thanks again Chris,

I read the link you posted and digested the information. Very well put.

I know some fungi are easily recognisable from macro characteristics and very many aren't. Some are only distinguishable by DNA or electron microscopy. As I have limited experience in even the most basic macro i.d., I realise others will be familiar with a lot more species and even more genus and can name many species from a decent photo. I posted the photo's hoping that someone may recognise it - like I recognise Amanita muscaria

I'm very happy if, like you have done, someone can give me a species or point to a genus. If an i.d. needs more information it's also useful to be told that as well.

I will start looking in to using "Keys" but so many of them require microscopic characteristics that I haven't got very far with that yet. As you stated in the link, some of us enjoy the photography and just want to put a name to the image, If we can't we'll just go and find another fungus to photograph! Over time though the interest builds and even I've started looking at the price of microscopes!

One thing I'm sure of: the contribution of very knowledgable people like yourself to these forums, really does a lot to cultivate interest and understanding in those of us just starting to explore the amazing world of fungi.

Regards

Dave

[flaxton]

Try Mycena pura for your second. Unless my monitor is calibrated very badly the gills looks pink rather than grey.

Mal

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Try Mycena pura for your second. Unless my monitor is calibrated very badly the gills looks pink rather than grey.

Mal

I was confused by that definite pinkish cast as well, but the grassland habitat doesn't seem appropriate for pura, does it?

Chris

[Ken Burgess]

Originally Posted by Chris Yeates

I was confused by that definite pinkish cast as well, but the grassland habitat doesn't seem appropriate for pura, does it?

Chris

I occasionally find Mycena pura out in grassy areas, well away from any surrounding trees. Found several at Clumber this year in grass, in fact, some distance from any trees.

Ken

[waxcap]

Thanks all.

There was plenty heather and gorse around but no trees.

Dave

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by Ken Burgess

I occasionally find Mycena pura out in grassy areas, well away from any surrounding trees. Found several at Clumber this year in grass, in fact, some distance from any trees.

Ken

Ditto

Melanie

[Ken Burgess]

Originally Posted by waxcap

Thanks all.

There was plenty heather and gorse around but no trees.

Dave

Nevertheless I'd agree with Mal on Mycena pura.

Don't forget always to give your finds a good sniff. Mycena pura has a distinctive smell described as raphanoid, which some people interpret as radishy and others as potato peelings. Distinctive smells can often save a lot of work in keying things out.

Ken

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Ken Burgess

I occasionally find Mycena pura out in grassy areas, well away from any surrounding trees. Found several at Clumber this year in grass, in fact, some distance from any trees.

Ken

thanks for that Ken (and Melanie) never come across that myself, but I'm a little bit the wiser . . .

C