Common Stump Brittlestem

Description:

Cap The cap of the Common Stump Brittlestem is initially hemispherical, becoming bell-shaped and eventually almost flat and 2-4cm across. White veil fragments adhere to and overhang the rim; they get smaller as the fruitbody ages, eventually becoming blackened by spores. The fragile caps crowd together in clumps, some of the caps getting broken as others expand beside them. Initially caps are dark red-brown, fading through date-brown to yellow-brown. Mature specimens are noticeably hygrophanous: they change colour depending on whether the surface is moist or dry, becoming pale tan or beige from the edge of the cap in dry weather. Gills The narrow gills of Psathyrella piluliformis are adnate and quite closely spaced; initially pinkish beige, they gradually turn dark brown and eventually almost black. The gills of this mushroom are very brittle. Typically 4 to 8mm in diameter and up to 8 cm long, the stems of this caespitose (clump-forming) fungus are straight or slightly curved and often lined with silky fibres. The partial veil that covers the young gills soon tears as the cap expands, leaving white fragments attached to the cap rim and little or no evidence on the stem, which has a matt, floury (pruinose) surface near the apex and is much smoother towards the base. As the fruit bodies mature, falling spores darken the stems, most noticeably towards the base.

Habitat:

Saprobic, on the stumps and buried dead branches of broadleaf trees; very occasionally on conifer stumps. Favouring damp, darkish woods. Very common and widespread in woodlands throughout Britain and Ireland, the Common Stump Brittlestem is also found throughout the European mainland and in many other countries including North America

Notes:

Spotted in a mix forest near my house