8 November 2009 Witley Common, Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Conical to bell shaped when young, expanding with age, often almost planar, with a depression in the centre, finely scaly, dark blackish blue, blue grey or violaceous blue, about 10 to 50 mm across Gills Adnate to decurrent, +/- crowded, whitish to pink when young, then pinkish blue with age, edges notched, very dark blue Stem Cylindrical or flattened with a longitudinal groove, smooth, longitudinally fibrous, fragile, base often slightly bulbous, dark blue or violet blue when young then greyish brown Flesh White, thin Smell Indistinct to aromatic Taste Mild or somewhat rancid Season Autumn Distribution Frequent Habitat On soil in grassland Spore Print Pinkish brown Microscopic Features Spores nodular, 5 to 8 sides, (8-12) x (6-9) µm2. Basidia 4 spored. Edibility Unknown 
A crop from the previous image showing the gill edges. 8 November 2009 Witley Common, Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |