14 October 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Synonymns Hygrocybe virginea var virginea, Hygrocybe nivea Cap Convex, then flattened, or upturned, surface slippery, with translucent radial striations extending from the margin towards the centre, white or cream, sometimes with a pale brown tinge, about 1 to 7 cm across Gills Broad, distant, decurrent, white Stem Smooth, +/- equal, white Flesh White Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season Autumn Distribution Common Habitat Unimproved grasslands, lawns, and sometimes in woods and on scrubland Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal or oblong, smooth (7-8.5) x (4.5-5) µm2 for specimens with four spored basida, and (10-12) x (5-6) µm2 for specimens with two spored basida Edibility Edible, good Notes Small specimens used to be known as H. nivea. Some specimens may exhibit pink spots and a coconut smell resulting from an infection 
14 October 2008 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |