by Bloomsbury
Broad Gill
Megacollybia platyphylla
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 15cm. Cap greyish-brown with radiating fibrils. Gills greyish-white and broad; adnate. Flesh white. Stem white or greyish-brown, covered with brownish mycelia strands resembling rootlets. If the fungus is carefully dug up it can be seen to have long white mycelial cords attached to the base of the stem.
HABITAT
Grows on the decayed wood of mainly deciduous trees, or from buried wood under the ground. Infrequent but locally common.
SEASON
Summer to autumn.
Changeable Melanoleuca
Melanoleuca melaleuca
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 8cm; stem to 7cm. Cap dark brown, turning paler with age; at first flattened convex, then becoming umbonate. Gills white; sinuate. Flesh white. Stem white with greyish fibrils, becoming darker with age, so retaining contrast with the cap throughout the life of the fungus.
HABITAT
Generally grows either in small troops or singly in grassy pasture, lawns near trees and grass in open deciduous woodland. Common species.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Wood Blewit
Lepista nuda
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 10cm. The whole fungus – cap, adnate gills and stem when young and fresh – is bluish-lilac, but the surface of the cap rapidly fades and becomes almost buff. Cap initially convex with a broad umbo, later depressed with an irregular wavy margin. Stem tends to broaden towards the base.
HABITAT
Grows in troops and rings in deciduous and coniferous woodland, parkland and gardens. Very common across Europe.
SEASON
Late autumn to early winter.
Field Blewit
Lepista saeva
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 10cm. Cap pale tan; initially convex, then flatter, depressed and undulating. Gills concolorous with the cap; adnate. Stem lilac, unchanging, usually swollen. Aroma perfumed, strong and pleasant – perhaps the most distinguishing feature.
HABITAT
Occurs in groups that often form rings, sometimes in very large numbers, in pasture and other grassy areas. Widespread across Europe, but not common. Occasionally found in England.
SEASON
Late autumn to early winter.
Heath Naval
Lichenomphalia umbellifera
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 2cm; stem to 2cm. Cap off-white, becoming yellowish or pale brown with age; characteristically funnel shaped, giving rise to the common name. Gills pale yellowish-cream; spaced and markedly decurrent. Stem thin and similar in colour to the cap.
HABITAT
Occurs on acid peaty soil in moss and lichens, and on rotten wood. The fruit body of the fungus component of a small green lichen, Botrydina vulgaris, which occurs on damp peaty soil. In Britain common in Scotland, and occasionally found elsewhere.
SEASON
Early summer to late autumn.
Sprucecone Cap
Strobilurus esculentus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 2.5cm; stem to 7cm. Cap pale greyish-white to mid-brown; initially convex, later becoming flatter. Gills whitish; almost free. Stem rather thin, similar in colour to the cap.
HABITAT
Grows on spruce cones, usually those that are partly buried in the ground or partially decayed.
SEASON
Spring.
The Goblet
Pseudoclitocybe cyathiformis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 8 cm; stem to 10cm. Cap dark greyish-brown; initially convex with a depressed centre, then deeply funnel shaped. Gills greyish, turning brown with age and extending onto the stem. Flesh pallid. Stem greyish-brown with a silky white fibrous covering, and swollen towards the base.
HABITAT
Grows singly or in small groups in mixed woodland among grass, leaf litter and other debris, particularly in damp locations. Widespread in Europe, but not common.
SEASON
Late autumn to winter.
Giant Funnel
Leucopaxillus giganteus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 30cm; stem to 7cm. Funnel with a very large cap and relatively short stem. Cap whitish in colour; funnel shaped, and often cracked or scaly. Gills whitish; crowded and decurrent. Flesh hard and white with a sweet odour. Stem stout and whitish with a bulbous base.
HABITAT
Grows in groups, often forming rings, in grass in pastures, hedgerows and woodland clearings. Widespread in Europe, but nowhere common.
SEASON
Summer.
Bitter Oysterling
Panellus stipticus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 4cm; stem to 2cm. Small and thin-fleshed, shell-shaped bracket fungus. Cap pale cinnamon-brown; thin with incurved margins and sometimes concentrically zoned. Gills darker than the cap; crowded, narrow, and adnate or decurrent. Stem very short and stout, lateral and attached to the cap on one side.
HABITAT
Grows in tiered clusters on dead deciduous wood, with often 20–30 or more in a group; favours oaks. Often grows on the cut edges of sawn trunks and logs. Common, especially late in season.
SEASON
Late autumn to winter.
Velvet Shank
Flammulina velutipes
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 10cm. Cap light orange, darker towards the centre; flat, and slimy when wet. Gills pale yellow; broad and quite crowded. Flesh yellow on the cap and dark brown on the stem. Stem concolorous with the cap at the apex, dark chocolate-brown and velvety-brown below, often curved and very tough. Edible and widely cultivated in the Far East.
HABITAT
Occurs in clusters on decaying deciduous trees, particularly oaks and elms. Widespread and common in Europe.
SEASON
Autumn to winter.
Livid Pinkgill
Entoloma sinuatum
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 20cm; stem to 10cm. Cap creamy-white to pale greyish-ochre; initially convex, then flatter and sometimes wavy at the edge. Gills start white and become yellowish salmon-pink as coloured spores develop; adnate. Flesh white, fairly thick. Stem concolorous with the cap. Poisonous: in Europe often confused with edible mushrooms such as St George’s Mushroom and The Miller (opposite). Also called Livid Agaric and Lead Poisoner.
HABITAT
Grows in deciduous woodland under oaks, beeches and less commonly birches, often on clay soils; also found in parks. Occurs throughout Europe to Britain and Ireland, but more common in southern and central parts of Europe than in north-west.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
The Miller
Clitopilus prunulus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 4cm. Cap creamy-white with a distinctive soft velvety texture; convex at first, becoming flattened with a depressed centre and wavy margin. Gills white at first, becoming pale pink at maturity; crowded and decurrent. Flesh firm and white with a strong odour of meal. Stem concolorous with the cap and covered in fine down.
HABITAT
Grows in scattered groups on rich soil in grass in open woodland. Widespread throughout Europe, although it has an uneven distribution.
SEASON
Midsummer to late autumn.
Deer Shield
Pluteus cervinus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 10cm. Cap varying shades of brown; initially bell shaped, then convex or flatter, generally with a broad umbo. Gills white, though the pink colour of the spores shows in the spaces between them; crowded and free. Flesh white. Stem white with brownish fibrils.
HABITAT
Grows in scattered groups on the stumps and trunks of deciduous trees, and on sawdust heaps and other woody debris. Very common and widesprea
d in Europe.
SEASON
Early spring to early winter.
Goldleaf Shield
Pluteus romellii
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 4cm; stem to 7cm. Cap smooth and cinnamon-brown, becoming yellowish at the margins; convex at first, becoming flattened at maturity. Gills whitish at first, then chrome-yellow and finally pink; free. Flesh yellowish and thin. Stem yellow and slender.
HABITAT
Grows singly or in small clumps on the logs, wood chips and other woody debris of deciduous trees, especially beeches. Found across Europe, but quite rare and has an uneven distribution.
SEASON
Spring to early winter.
Velvet Shield
Pluteus umbrosus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 9cm; stem to 9cm. Cap brown with velvety black scales; initially convex, then flatter and umbonate with an incurved margin. Gills pink with dark brown edges; crowded and free. Flesh thin, soft and white with an odour of garlic. Stem cylindrical; similar surface to the cap.
HABITAT
Occurs in small groups on the stumps, rotten wood and debris of deciduous trees, particularly beeches, ashes and elms. Widespread in Europe, but patchily distributed and quite rare.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Veined Shield
Pluteus petasatus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 14cm; stem to 10cm. Cap whitish with dark brown scales concentrated at the centre; initially convex, then flatter and umbonate. Gills white, maturing to greyish-pink; crowded and free. Flesh white and soft with an odour of radishes. Stem thick and whitish with brown or blackish fibres at the base.
HABITAT
Occurs in clumps on the stumps, debris and sawdust of deciduous trees. Fairly widespread in Europe, but nowhere common.
SEASON
Early summer to late autumn.
Stubble Rosegill
Volvariella gloiocephala
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 16cm. Cap white with a darker centre; oval when young, expanding to convex and flattened at maturity, usually with a broad umbo. Gills white, turning to pink at maturity, crowded and free. Flesh white and firm with an earthy odour. Stem whitish, smooth and tapered, arising from a sac-like white volva with no ring.
HABITAT
Grows in scattered groups, sometimes in large numbers, on compost heaps, manured ground, dung heaps, rotted straw and stubble fields. Common and widespread in Europe, but with a patchy distribution.
SEASON
Summer to early winter.
Silky Rosegill
Volvariella bombycina
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 20cm; stem to 15cm. Cap white; bell shaped, covered with silky fibres. Gills pink, crowded and free. Stem smooth and white, arising from a sac-like brownish volva with no ring.
HABITAT
Grows singly on the decayed stumps or standing trunks of deciduous trees, particularly elms. Widespread but rare in Europe.
SEASON
Early spring to late autumn.
Webcap species
Cortinarius mucifluoides
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 10cm. Cap rich brown, paler and striate on the outer third, and slimy; initially hemispherical or convex, then flatter with a broad umbo. Gills rusty coloured; adnate or free. Flesh pale brown. Stem slimy, slightly swollen in the middle; white with a slimy violet veil to the ring zone. One of numerous species of Cortinarius, many poisonous, and few of which can be recognized in the field.
HABITAT
Grows mainly in deciduous woodland, especially on beeches. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Autumn.
Deadly Webcap
Cortinarius rubellus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 7cm; stem to 10cm. Cap tawny to date-brown, darker in the centre, and dry and fibrous; initially conical, then flatter. Gills and flesh initially ochre-brown, then rust-brown with paler edges; adnate. Stem tall, colour similar to the cap, dry and fibrous. Spores rusty coloured. Deadly: can destroy the kidneys (symptoms are late in onset), and accounts for about 4 per cent of fungus fatalities. Particularly dangerous due to its similarity to the edible chanterelles.
HABITAT
Grows under pines, with a northern distribution in Europe. Rare in Britain, where it is found mainly in Scotland. Similar species grow under deciduous trees in southerly areas; all are poisonous.
SEASON
Autumn.
Spectacular Rustgill
Gymnopilus junonius
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 15cm; stem to 15cm. Large tufted species. Cap deep golden-yellow; initially convex, then flatter and generally broadly umbonate. Gills yellow and coloured by rusty spores that fall on the stem; adnate. Flesh yellow. Stem concolorous with the cap, and stout and swollen towards the base, with an ascending ring.
HABITAT
Grows on decayed deciduous wood, often buried and arising from buried roots and wood, so that it appears to be growing on the ground. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Summer to early winter.
Poison Pie
Hebeloma crustuliniforme
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 10cm; stem to 7cm. Cap pale tan, darkening in the centre almost to a dark brick colour; initially convex and becoming flatter and undulating, often with a shallow umbo; sticky and long remaining inrolled at the edge. Gills first a clay colour and eventually date-brown; adnate. In wet weather the gills develop drops of water on the edges, which catch the spores and dry to leave brown spots. Flesh white and thick. Stem pale whitish-fawn. Smells strongly of radishes. Poisonous, causing gastric upsets.
HABITAT
Grows singly or in groups along wood edges, under trees and on lawns. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Autumn.
Bitter Poison Pie
Hebeloma sinapizans
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 12cm. Cap yellowish-clay, darkening in time to pale tan, and sticky; initially convex, then flatter and undulating, sometimes with a shallow umbo. Gills cinnamon-brown and spores rusty; crowded and adnate. Flesh white. Stem pale, sturdy and has a basal swelling. Smells strongly of radishes or raw potatoes.
HABITAT
Grows in deciduous and mixed woodland. Widespread although infrequent.
SEASON
Autumn.
Split Fibrecap
Inocybe rimosa
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 7cm; stem to 8cm. Common but variable fibrecap. Cap yellowish with darker brown silky radiating fibres; similar to a bell tent in shape. The radial cracks in the cap are a distinguishing feature. Gills dirty yellow with a white edge; crowded and adnate. Stem even, fairly tall and slim, and similar in colour to the cap.
HABITAT
Grows under deciduous trees, especially beeches. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Early summer to late autumn.
White Fibrecap
Inocybe geophylla
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 4cm; stem to 6cm. Cap white with a smooth and silky surface; at first conical, then as it opens out becoming bell shaped or flatter with a pronounced umbo. Gills at first whitish, then clay coloured; spores rusty; gills almost free. Flesh white. Stem whitish, cylindrical, fairly long in relation to the cap and often bent.
HABITAT
Occurs singly or in troops in all types of woodland, and sometimes also in mossy lawns. Common along path edges in woodland.
SEASON
Early summer to late autumn.
Deadly Fibrecap
Inocybe erubescens
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 8cm; stem to 10cm. Cap ivory with red radial fibres, and silky; initially conical, then bell shaped or flatter, generally with a broad umbo. Gills at first pink, the
n grey-brown, bruising red; adnate. Stem stout, ivory coloured as the cap, with longitudinal red fibrils. All parts bruise red. Deadly poisonous: even in small quantities, causes death from heart failure or asphyxiation.
HABITAT
Characteristically found singly or in troops on chalk in beech woods. Infrequent.
SEASON
Late spring to autumn.
Brown Rollrim
Paxillus involutus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 12cm; stem to 7cm. Medium-sized species related to the boletes. Cap downy brown; maintains an inrolled margin for a long time, then becomes funnel shaped and reveals the decurrent ochre gills. These are readily pushed off the stem with a fingernail. Flesh and stem similar in colour to the cap. Stem stout and cylindrical or sometimes slightly thicker at the base, and covered with longitudinal fibrils.
HABITAT
Occurs singly or in troops in deciduous woodland, where it is usually associated with birches, and on acid heaths. Widespread and common.
SEASON
Late summer to autumn.
Yellow Fieldcap
Bolbitius titubans
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Cap to 4cm; stem to 8cm. Cap bright yellow; initially oval, then bell shaped and finally flattish; at first viscid, then furrowed and splitting at the margin. Gills at first yellowish, then becoming rusty; crowded and adnate. Stem tall, cylindrical and slim, tending to thicken at the base, and creamy at first covered with a pale meal.
HABITAT
