Turf Mottlegill - Panaeolus fimicola

First of all, apologies for the lack of posts these past couple of months. Things have been quite hectic, and I've been really busy. In the last two months, I've handed in my dissertation, completed two exams, moved house and started an internship. Needless to say, there's hasn't been much time for mushroom hunting, not that there were many about in April and May anyway.

Regardless, I have finally got a few days to relax, so I thought I'd go for a wander around my new neighbourhood this morning. What I discovered were loads of mushrooms scattered in the grass around me. Excited, I picked one and took it home to make a spore print.

It's likely that they sprung up due to the huge amounts of rain we've been having here in Wales. They were wet, so their caps looked shiny. Unfortunately, I have managed to misplace my mushroom identification books during the move, so had to use the internet to try and discover what these little brown mushrooms were. Luckily it didn't take me long, and I've concluded that they are Turf Mottlegills, or Panaeolus fimicola.

Mottlegills get their name from having gills that appear spotted, as the spores mature unevenly, creating a "mottled" look. This also means that the gills can be different colours, depending on the maturity of the mushroom. This mushroom in particular was quite fragile, and had a mushroomy scent. The spore print was black.

Characteristics

Habitat: In grass, particularly lawns or grass verges
Cap: 1.5-4cm across, convex. Colour changes depending on moisture; dark reddish-brown when wet, drying a paler brown.
Stem: 4-8cm long, covered in a fibrous, frosty-white down, making it appear cream-coloured.
Gills: Adnate, grey-brown; white towards the edges. Becomes black as the spores mature.
Spore print: Black
Season: Early summer to autumn
Edibility: Inedible

I'm hoping this signifies the beginning of mushroom season, in which case, happy hunting!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Never eat a mushroom you've found without confirmation that it is edible by an expert.

Comments

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