Psathyrella conopilus

Description:

Psathyrella is a large genus of about 400 fungi, and is similar to the genera Coprinellus, Coprinopsis, Coprinus and Panaeolus, usually with a thin cap and white or yellowish white hollow stem. But the caps do not self digest as do those of Coprinellus and Coprinopsis. Some also have brown spores rather than black. These fungi are often drab-colored, difficult to identify, and inedible, and so they are sometimes considered uninteresting. However they are quite common and can occur at times when there are few other mushrooms to be seen. The first report of a gilled mushroom fruiting underwater is Psathyrella aquatica ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psathyrella... )

Habitat:

Ecology: Saprobic; growing scattered to gregariously or in loose clusters of 2-4 mushrooms (but not densely clustered) from the deadwood or litter of hardwoods, or from dung; found in hardwood forests or in cultivated areas; spring and fall; widely distributed in North America. Cap: 2-5 cm; broadly conical, often becoming broadly bell-shaped or nearly convex; bald; sometimes becoming radially wrinkled; dull reddish brown, fading to buff; changing color markedly as it dries out; without veil remnants. Gills: Attached to the stem; close; brownish at first, becoming dark purplish brown to nearly black; with whitish edges. Stem: 6-19 cm long; up to 5 mm thick; equal; fragile; hollow; bald or very finely silky; white; without a ring. Flesh: Thin; fragile; watery brownish. Odor and Taste: Not distinctive. Spore Print: Black

Notes:

Psathyrella conopilus (also known as Psathyrella conopilea) is a synonym. Psathyrella subatrata is also a synonym, according to some mycologists. ( http://www.mushroomexpert.com/parasola_c... ), ( http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Li... )