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Identity sought for Spring mushroom
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Please do not ask for the identification of fungi for edibility or narcotic purposes. Any help provided by forum members is on the understanding that fungi are not to be consumed. Any deaths or serious poisonings are the responsibility of the person eating or preparing the fungus for others. If it is apparent from a post that the fungus is for eating or smoking etc, the post will be deleted and a warning given. Although many members do eat fungi, no-one would be willing to take someone else's life into their hands.
Identity sought for Spring mushroom
Could someone please identify this from the two examples? The light periphery of the caps is very distinctive. They grew the night of 10th April on North Downs chalk grassland. I didn't see it or take the photograph, but the size can be judged from the adjacent clover.
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mollisia
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Re: Identity sought for Spring mushroom
Hello,
this looks like Panaeolus foenisecii, but it might be a species of Psathyrella too.
best regards,
Andreas
this looks like Panaeolus foenisecii, but it might be a species of Psathyrella too.
best regards,
Andreas
Re: Identity sought for Spring mushroom
The droplets/pruinosity visible on the stem suggest a Panaeolus sp. rather than a Psathyrella.
It's interesting to look at the fruiting period of different Panaeolus spp. My own database has over 200 records of P. foenisecii and all collections were made between 19th May and 10th November. This doesn't mean you won't see one in April!
Two other common spp. occur all year round: P. acuminatus (syn. rickenii) and P. fimicola (syn. ater). However 70% of my acuminatus records are from Sept. to November and 72% of fimicola were between March and May (this species is usually thought of as a 'spring mushroom').
So statistically it is likely to be P. fimicola!
Of course you really need to check the spores of Panaeolus spp. under a microscope. P. foenisecii can be distinguished from other Panaeolus spp. by its warty spores. The other two mentioned have smooth spores but the spore size is different.
The pale margin of the cap is where they are drying out; this species is hygrophanous and will be considerably paler when dried out.
It's interesting to look at the fruiting period of different Panaeolus spp. My own database has over 200 records of P. foenisecii and all collections were made between 19th May and 10th November. This doesn't mean you won't see one in April!
Two other common spp. occur all year round: P. acuminatus (syn. rickenii) and P. fimicola (syn. ater). However 70% of my acuminatus records are from Sept. to November and 72% of fimicola were between March and May (this species is usually thought of as a 'spring mushroom').
So statistically it is likely to be P. fimicola!
Of course you really need to check the spores of Panaeolus spp. under a microscope. P. foenisecii can be distinguished from other Panaeolus spp. by its warty spores. The other two mentioned have smooth spores but the spore size is different.
The pale margin of the cap is where they are drying out; this species is hygrophanous and will be considerably paler when dried out.
Re: Identity sought for Spring mushroom
Thanks very much Andreas and Roy for your very helpful and informative replies.
best regards
Tony
best regards
Tony