Pholiotina aporos?

SheffieldLass · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 11:15 AM

I found a typical looking Conocybe/Pholiotina fungus on Sunday (no photos of the fruit body, as I didn't have my camera, sorry). I didn't notice any rings, but they did have a quite noticeable appendiculate veil on the cap margin.

Checking one out microscopically the spores appear to be without pores. Quite a few of the cheilocystidia are sub-capitate. Spore size is (7.3) 7.9-8.6 (8.7) x (4.3) 4.7-5.3 (5.7) um, average 8.2x5um, Qav 1.6.

I'm thinking this must be P aporos, but apparently it is rarely found in the autumn. I ruled out P vesita on spore size and cheilocystidia shape because those are described as not capitate. Also ruled out Pholiotina velata as that has spores with pores, and again their spores are a bit on the small side, though the cheilocystidia look right.

Although the spore size for P aporos is spot on, I'm not quite sure about the cheilocystidia as the ones shown in FAN 6 and Funga nordica are stockier, as are the ones I've found in spring and id'd as P aporos. Also the veil type (appendiculate) rather than with a ring also niggles.

cheilocystidia

spores

Your views would be very welcome.

Melanie

mollisia · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 02:25 PM

Hello Melanie,

the shape of the cheilos definitely only leads to Pholiotina brunnea. There is no other Pholiotina with such Cheilos and a appendiculate veil.
The spores are a bit on the upper side, but Toni Hausknecht gives them as 6-9,5 x 3,5-5,5 µm.
But what is strange is the fact, that you don't see a germ pore. If this is true, then you should send specimens to Toni Hausknecht, he will be gladly looking at them.

best regards,
Andreas

SheffieldLass · #3 (**permalink**) 07-12-2011, 10:08 PM

Thanks Andreas,

You are very probably correct on that. The pores of P brunnea are described by some as indistinct, and I've just done a google search to look at some microphotos of them, and yes they do seem to be very indistinct. There were just one or two on mine that I did wonder if they had pores, but they were so much in the minority that I thought they were probably slightly damaged spores. I'll save it and when I've got a chance look at the spores with oil immersion.

Melanie