HELP and UPDATE RE: Is this vivid blue/green fungus Stropharia aeruginosa???

[dickie'sbird]

Hello Everyone,

I've been puzzled by this wonderful slimey fungus for over two weeks now. It started out as a young delicate looking fungus and I've been back a couple of times to check on progress. Now I'm well and truly puzzled because the original young fungus has grown a little but not changed it's form for nearly three weeks. A foot or so away is a couple of small very slimy looking brilliant blue/green young fungus with domed tops. Two feet away from them is a full flat capped fungus(about 50mm diameter) in same colours but ochre coloured in the centre and with a small fat stipe, very slimey and wet...although a dry day.

All these fungi's are growing through moss on a large moss covered log...possibly beech as there are a few beech trees nearby.

Image showing 2 new fungus and original fungus at the bottom that way featured in my 1st post on this subject.

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Images showing the 2 new fungus in close up.





Close up of the mature flat cap fungus







This fungus is a very vivid blue/green and I've tried to capture that as best I can...

Many thanks for any help,

Jean

[Lancashire Lad]

I can only suggest that there may be something affecting the growth of the fruitbodies to result in these short stubby stipes. - Certainly unlike the stipes of any of the "blue" Stropharia's I've seen.

Regards,
Mike.

[dickie'sbird]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I can only suggest that there may be something affecting the growth of the fruitbodies to result in these short stubby stipes. - Certainly unlike the stipes of any of the "blue" Stropharia's I've seen.

Regards,
Mike.

Thanks Mike for the suggestion, you could be right because I can't find anything that resembles the images in any of my books...or internet searches. The stipe looks so completely different. I thought after three weeks there would be an answer but it's more of a mystery than ever.....

Regards,

Jean

[fairplay]

The 4th shot down shows the fruiting bodies looking like normal Stropharia, but another shot shows the gills with a mould of some sort on them, so I would guess the mould attack has stunted the growth.

Neil.

[dickie'sbird]

Didn't even think of mould...or it's possible effect on the growth! Thanks Neil.... any ideas on the Ist image as this looks quite healthy but apart from growing a little in the last 3 weeks it hasn't changed???

Regards,
Jean

[fairplay]

Well with that blue in the stem, it has to be another Stropharia, so if there is a mould present, it could have attacked others too even before they started to emerge.
It is definitely stunted, and I can only think of a fungal attack that would cause this.

Neil.

[dickie'sbird]

Originally Posted by fairplay

Well with that blue in the stem, it has to be another Stropharia, so if there is a mould present, it could have attacked others too even before they started to emerge.
It is definitely stunted, and I can only think of a fungal attack that would cause this.

Neil.

Shame if it is a mould attack of some sort....such striking colours, it would have been nice to have seen the full grown specimen. Maybe next time I'll be lucky!

Cheers for all help received on this enigma,

Jean