Clitocybe vibecina or Hygrocybe irrigata or….?

[Steve]

Clitocybe or Hygrocybe?

Hi,

We found this on very old rotted dung on a site rich in waxcaps, especially H. irrigata. As it was on dung I was unsure what it was. It was grey and sticky like H. irrigata, and has some anastamoses of the gills. However, the spores are too small for this species – just 5-6 x 3–3.5 on avarage. Also, the clamp connections in the cap cuticle are easily seen – not a feature of H. irrigata accorting to Fungi of Switzerland. I have been assured by a local authority on waxcaps that Hygrocybe is in fact symbiotic on moss – notably Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus. Although this moss is very common in damp grass, I haven’t noticed that it is always present with Hygrocybe. This specimen was definitely saprobic. Could it be a Clitocybe – ther gills are a little decurrent. No sign of any cystidia. C. vibecina is found on rough grassland in our area – especially near bracken, but I haven’t noticed its gelatinous texture before. It had been very rainy.

This is puzzling me ….a lot 😥

Cheers,

Steve

[Ken Burgess]

Hi Steve

I think you are in the right area with Clitocybe but this does not look like C. vibecina to me. Also, C. vibecina should have a distinctive smell. Smells can be critical in determining these small hygrophanous species in Clitocybe. Ideally you also need to know the colour of the spore deposit to key them out.

I think it is more likely to be something like Clitocybe agrestis, but there are several similar species which can be tricky to separate.

Ken

PS I thought the jury was still out on the ectomycorrhizal relationships of Hygrocybe.

[roy betts]

If it’s definitely growing on dung you might consider Clitocybe amarescens. From FAN3: “… in nutrient rich grassland, on ruderal vegetation or on old dung… Rather common in the Netherlands”. I’ve recorded it a few times.

[Steve]

Thanks very much,

This was without smell but unfortunately a lot of us are losing our sense of smell as we get a bit older. When you ask people to assess a smell such as from Coconut Milkcap or Honey Waxcap it worrying how few get it first time. Two people in our team couldn’t smell the coal gas from Tricholoma sulphureum – I was surprised 😮 – it was a really powerful one.

Cheers once again, I shall follow up the leads you’ve kindly provided,

Steve

[Author]

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