Going for a walk on a weekday is really rather peaceful, as everyone is at work. It can feel like you have a whole section of the world to yourself, like your own little secret. That's how I felt today walking down the Rhymney Trail. There were loads of birds and dragonflies about, but other than that, I was pretty much by myself.
It wasn't until I was on my way back that I found any mushrooms. I came slightly off the path to look at a pile of fallen trees and, just as I was about to give up, I spotted a cluster of mushrooms, nearing the end of their life.
It's been really dry the last couple of days, so it's likely they ran out of moisture. When I looked to the floor next to me, I saw some more poking out of the ground.
They looked similar to a cluster I'd found in March, which I'd only recently identified. I went home to make a spore print and look at my old pictures, and concluded that these elderly fungi were Pale Brittlestems, or Psathyrella candolleana, the same species as my previous find, which looked a lot healthier.
Their spore print is dark brown.
Characteristics
Habitat: On or near deciduous trees, stumps or logs. Also found in soil in woodland.
Cap: 2-6cm across. Bell-shaped at first, becoming flatter with age. Some have a little bump on the top. When wet, they are a brown colour, drying to an almost white. Also become paler with age.
Stem: Up to 6cm long. White and brittle (hence the name!)
Gills: Adnexed and crowded. White at first, becoming grey and then chocolate brown.
Spore print: Dark brown
Season: Spring to late autumn
Edibility: Lots of sources disagree, suggesting either unknown edibility, suspect or edible but not very tasty. Therefore, I have concluded that they are inedible, and should be avoided.
Pale Brittlestems are related to Inkcaps, but they don't dissolve upon maturity.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Never eat a mushroom you've found without confirmation that it is edible by an expert.
It wasn't until I was on my way back that I found any mushrooms. I came slightly off the path to look at a pile of fallen trees and, just as I was about to give up, I spotted a cluster of mushrooms, nearing the end of their life.
It's been really dry the last couple of days, so it's likely they ran out of moisture. When I looked to the floor next to me, I saw some more poking out of the ground.
They looked similar to a cluster I'd found in March, which I'd only recently identified. I went home to make a spore print and look at my old pictures, and concluded that these elderly fungi were Pale Brittlestems, or Psathyrella candolleana, the same species as my previous find, which looked a lot healthier.
Their spore print is dark brown.
Characteristics
Habitat: On or near deciduous trees, stumps or logs. Also found in soil in woodland.
Cap: 2-6cm across. Bell-shaped at first, becoming flatter with age. Some have a little bump on the top. When wet, they are a brown colour, drying to an almost white. Also become paler with age.
Stem: Up to 6cm long. White and brittle (hence the name!)
Gills: Adnexed and crowded. White at first, becoming grey and then chocolate brown.
Spore print: Dark brown
Season: Spring to late autumn
Edibility: Lots of sources disagree, suggesting either unknown edibility, suspect or edible but not very tasty. Therefore, I have concluded that they are inedible, and should be avoided.
Pale Brittlestems are related to Inkcaps, but they don't dissolve upon maturity.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Never eat a mushroom you've found without confirmation that it is edible by an expert.
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