22 November 2023 Medstead church yard, Medstead, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Cap Convex, expanding with age, smooth to velvety, hygrophanous, dark reddish brown when fresh, paler when dry, margin paler, radially lined, to about 5 cm across Gills Free, broad, crowded, cream to pale brown to pinkish Stem Cylindrical, smooth reddish brown, paler at the apex Smell Very strong, a mixture of fish and cucumber Taste Unpleasant Season Summer to winter Distribution Frequent Habitat On humus, or nitrogen, rich soil, especially when mulched with wood chips Spore Print Pale pinkish brown Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (7.5-10) x (4-5) µm2. Basidia 4 spored. Gill face and gill edge cystidia large, lanceolate. Stem and cap cystidia similar. Edibility Inedible, possibly poisonous Notes This species can hardly be mistaken given the strong and distinctive smell 
Spores in Congo Red solution viewed with a 100X immersion objective. 22 November 2023 Medstead church yard, Medstead, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
Gill cystidia in Congo Red solution viewed with a 40X objective. 22 November 2023 Medstead church yard, Medstead, Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |