In a pot with Mentha spicata (spearmint). 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Convex, expanding, smooth, sometimes wrinkled, margin sometimes lined, ochraceous to pale yellow, to about 5 cm across Gills Adnate, fairly broad, brown Stem Slender, cylindrical, pruinose, rooting, pale ochraceous to pale yellow Flesh Firm, pale yellow Smell Indistinct Taste Bitter Season Autumn Distribution Rare Habitat On soil in woods and on soil mulched with wood chips Spore Print Dark brown Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (8-12) x (4.5-6) µm2. Gill edge cystidia lageniform. Gill face cystidia lageniform, sometimes with 3 to 5 long finger like projections. Cap cuticle cystidia lageniform. Stem cystidia lageniform. Edibility Unknown Notes The fungus emerges from a buried pea sized mass known as a sclerotium. In the case of the specimens in the photographs, numerous off white sclerotia were visible at the soil surface many months before the fungus emerged, although at the time I had no idea what they were. This species is easily recognised under the microscope by the presence of gill face cystidia with finger like projections. Note that some of the specimens shown are far more robust than usual. 
The slender forms to the right are more typical of the species. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores in Congo red viewed with a x100 immersion objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright . 
A gill face cystidium with finger like projections in Congo red viewed with a x40 objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Gill edge cystidia in Congo red viewed with a x40 objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Cap cuticle cystidia in Congo red viewed with a x40 objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 19 October 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |