23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Conical, expanding, radially lined, rusty brown to yellow brown, 5 to 20 mm across Gills Adnate, yellow brown, darkening with age Stem Equal, covered with fine hairs, yellow brown, darker towards the base Flesh Thin, concolorous with the cap Smell Indistinct Taste Mealy Season Autumn Distribution Common Habitat Among mosses in grassland and heaths and on rotten wood Spore Print Rust Microscopic Features Spores almond shaped, warty (10-13) x (5.5-7) µm2 in 2 spored forms and (8-10.5) x (5.5-7) µm2 in 4 spored forms. Basidia 2 or 4 spored. Gill cystidia flask shaped (lageniform) with a long neck, tip sometimes slightly expanded. Stem cystidia similar, plentiful, present along the entire stem. Cystidia not present on the cap surface. Edibility Inedible Notes Although not easy to recognise, the habitat and the distinctly pruinose stem are characteristic features of this species. G. atkinsoniana is extremely similar to the 2 spored form, but differs by having cystidia on the cap surface, and slightly larger spores. 
23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores viewed with a x100 immersion microscope objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Gill edge cystidia viewed with a x40 microscope objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Stem cystidia viewed with a x40 microscope objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Stem cystidia viewed with a x40 microscope objective and x2.5 projection eyepiece. 23 November 2013 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |