16 April 2023 Crab Wood, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Convex, expanding with age, smooth, somewhat greasy, dark brown, about 4cm wide Gills Adnate, crowded, white Stem Cylindrical, broadening at the base and the apex, surface fibrous, pale brown Flesh Whitish, firm Smell Indistinct Season The specimen shown was found in spring Distribution Unknown Habitat On soil in woodland Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, with coarse amyloid warts (7.4-7.9) x (4.7-5) µm2, Q = 1.5-1.7. Basidia four spored. Gill edge cystidia mostly lageniform, with a needle like tip, and a broader base separated by a distinct shoulder, often with crystals at the apex. Edibility Unknown Notes I originally identified this specimen as M. friesii. A DNA sequence was obtained by Eric Janke in association with the BMS which proved that our collection is not M. friesii. The specimen matches sequence KY41711.1_Melanoleuca_nivea_voucher_Bon_92209 which was logged as M. nivea. Eric located five M. nivea sequences and unfortunately all are distinct, thus the identification is uncertain. Eric suggested that our collection represents an as yet undescribed species. 
16 April 2023 Crab Wood, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Spores in Melzer's solution viewed with a 100X immersion objective. 16 April 2023 Crab Wood, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Gill edge cystidia in Congo Red solution viewed with a 40X objective. 16 April 2023 Crab Wood, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |