The Ultimate "What is this Fungi?" thread.

[s'étonner]

Hey guys!

I found this whilst out running through some meadows this morning. I'm guessing that it's a giant puffball. Would that be correct?

It's probably worth noting that there were some tiny black bugs inside it. Would this still be edible?

Any advice greatly appreciated as I'm hungry!

Thank you for reading!

 

[Geoff Dann]

Hey guys!

I found this whilst out running through some meadows this morning. I'm guessing that it's a giant puffball. Would that be correct?

It looks more like a Mosaic Puffball (Handkea utriformis).

It's probably worth noting that there were some tiny black bugs inside it. Would this still be edible?

Yes.

 

[s'étonner]

Cheers Geoff

 

[EarthToSimon]

Found these all over the chopping block this morning, thought one was leafy brain but it's not shiny.

No idea with the other one. It's gills don't touch the stem if that helps.

Not wanting to eat them, just worried about them poisoning the dog

 

[Adze]

No idea about pic1 but pic2 is a jews ear, which isn't poisonous.

 

[EarthToSimon]

No idea about pic1 but pic2 is a jews ear, which isn't poisonous.

Great thanks for the help.

 

[Geoff Dann]

The other one is Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinus disseminatus). Technically edible but completely pointless.

 

[EarthToSimon]

The other one is Trooping Crumble Cap (Coprinus disseminatus). Technically edible but completely pointless.

Thanks it's all over the garden now I've started looking.

 

[Iona]

Urban X, Definitely not St Georges, wrong colour, stem, no inrolled cap, wrong cap texture and smell. Haven't time to do any research for you at the mo, but would recommend logging on to Wild About Britain fungi forum. They have a 'no edilbes' policy, but lots of incredibly knowledgable mycologists on there, and when something pops up in a grow bag it's always possible it's an interesting import... (eaqually possible it's common as muck!) And EarthToSimon, Lovely pics! Never heard of trooping crumble cap, every book and mycologist I've encountered would refer to Coprinellus disseminatus as Fairy inkcap. Is that a regional name?

 

[Iona]

Had to come back and look again, Urban X's mushrooms are on my mind! Throwing up real Hebeloma vibes for me, but there isn't one down to species level that ticks all the boxes... Was the stipe longer on the more mature ones? Definitely no radish or (disgusting) sickly sweet smell? Are they still there to see what one cut in half looks like? Knew I shouldn't have logged in. Now I have to know!

 

[Geoff Dann]

Never heard of trooping crumble cap, every book and mycologist I've encountered would refer to Coprinellus disseminatus as Fairy inkcap. Is that a regional name?

Phillips, "Mushrooms" (2nd edition), page 260: "Fairy Inkcap or Trooping Crumble Cap"



Listed as "Fairies Bonnets" in the 1st edition, IIRC.

 

[Geoff Dann]

Had to come back and look again, Urban X's mushrooms are on my mind! Throwing up real Hebeloma vibes for me, but there isn't one down to species level that ticks all the boxes... Was the stipe longer on the more mature ones? Definitely no radish or (disgusting) sickly sweet smell? Are they still there to see what one cut in half looks like? Knew I shouldn't have logged in. Now I have to know!

I also thought it looked like a Hebeloma, but I think they're normally mycorrhizal.

 

[Iona]

Normally I'd agree, but grow bags often throw up interesting things! And normally mushrooms don't read the bloody mushroom books And the names thing is interesting isn't it? Phillips was my first book years ago, still have it but not looked at it in forever as I'm a Sterry and Hughes convert, and the new Buckzaki is in the post! I think that's why I prefer the Latin, the folklore in the English names is fun, but they do cause confusion... Bonnets are mycena surely! And Fly agarics aren't agaricus... And what to me was always a 'yellow leg' some call a trumpet chanterelle... I'll stick with my Roman gobbledygook I think

 

[Geoff Dann]

Normally I'd agree, but grow bags often throw up interesting things! And normally mushrooms don't read the bloody mushroom books And the names thing is interesting isn't it? Phillips was my first book years ago, still have it but not looked at it in forever as I'm a Sterry and Hughes convert,

I think they complement each other. I need both of them.

and the new Buckzaki is in the post!

I will check that out.

I think that's why I prefer the Latin, the folklore in the English names is fun, but they do cause confusion... Bonnets are mycena surely! And Fly agarics aren't agaricus... And what to me was always a 'yellow leg' some call a trumpet chanterelle... I'll stick with my Roman gobbledygook I think

Again, I think I need both!

 

[Mad Mike]

Found yesterday, a big fairy ring in a big lawn

Closer

The gardener said I could pick

It opened up overnight

50m away under trees

I have managed to confuse myself between a few books. Could someone please try an ID

Mike

 

[Lynx]

Horse mushrooms?

 

[Iona]

Wow! Lovely pics! I'd go for almost def horse mushrooms on the first lot, but the smell and a decent shot of the underside of the ring would clinch it... smells are really important in this genus and will help you ID any dodgy ones.

The second lot were a bit removed, different habitat, longer stipes... I'd love some more info! Can you cut one in half for us? And let us know of any smells...

 

[Harvestman]

Here's some fungus pics from a walk today in the Wye Valley.

As found growing (there were others that I left). I was pretty confident of them being Agaricus, but did a volva check anyway. No volva.


This one was probably just a younger specimen, but something about it said Death Cap to me, and as it was not opened, I left it.


I took three. My initial guess was Agaricus augustus, The Prince, based on the rugose caps, but that isn't a species I've seen before.


I separated the stems from the caps for ease of carrying the caps, and then split the stems with a knife. They stained yellow in blotches down the stem, but not entirely. I don't know if the picture shows this.


I also split one of the caps. No yellow staining at all. One of the other caps was faintly red-tinged where it had been slug damaged, and was the older cap.


Based on subsequently looking it up in Phillips, I'm fairly confident that it is indeed The Prince (Red tinged with age, rugose cap, stem blotches yellow, habitat and season correct) but any opinions on here would be welcome. Any responsibility for eating them remains my own.

 

[Mad Mike]

Wow! Lovely pics! I'd go for almost def horse mushrooms on the first lot, but the smell and a decent shot of the underside of the ring would clinch it... smells are really important in this genus and will help you ID any dodgy ones.

The second lot were a bit removed, different habitat, longer stipes... I'd love some more info! Can you cut one in half for us? And let us know of any smells...

OK the 2nd lot smelled just like shop bought field mushroom - got stronger as they aged - sorry too far gone to cut in half today.

1st big one no particular smell (hay fever doesn't help) Pictures just taken

& in half - a couple of maggots in the stem

hope this helps

Mike

 

[Geoff Dann]

I agree with Iona that the first ones are probably horse mushrooms, although this genus is tricky and smells are needed to be sure. They might also be Agaricus urinascens, which is larger and much less common...and smells different.

The others are certainly NOT A. augustus. They look like one of the phenol-tainted, yellow-staining members of the genus, probably A. moelleri. These smell like TCP.