Part 72

Marginal cystidia: cylindric-wavy, hyaline.

Facial cystidia: absent.

Depending on the herbaceous constituents the fungus-flora will vary. Certain species are found on all sorts of herbaceous debris, but others are much more specific to their substrate preferences. Beds of Butterbur, Coltsfoot or Impatiens are also good hunting places, as are beds of sedges in fenland. In many of these localities agarics with reduced fruit-bodies looking like disc-fungi are frequently seen. We have already discussed the specific requirements of certain species of Marasmius (see p. 92).

(v) Fungi of moss-cushions

Many small species grow amongst moss cushions on tree trunks, tucked in crevices in walls or on the tops of old buildings. However, there is one genus of agarics, i.e. Galerina which is probably more typical than any other of such situations. There are many members of this genus whose small caps are found in the autumn pushing up through the moss plants. Plate 78.

~Galerina hypnorum~ (Fries) Kühner

Cap: width 4-6 mm. Stem: width 1 mm; length 20-40 mm.

Description:

Cap: hemispherical or bell-shaped, hygrophanous, orange-yellow, sand-colour, smooth and striate almost to the cap-centre.

Stem: smooth and similarly coloured to the cap.

Gills: yellow-tawny then rust-coloured, adnate emarginate, rather broad and somewhat distant.

Flesh: thin, yellow-tawny and with a smell of new meal.

Spore-print: rust-colour.

Spores: medium-sized, almond-shaped, golden yellow under the microscope, slightly roughened and 10-11 × 6-7 µm in size.

Marginal cystidia: flask-shaped or cylindrical with slight swelling at the apex.

Facial cystidia: absent.

~Galerina mycenopsis~ (Fries) Kühner

Cap: width 6-15 mm. Stem: width 1 mm; length 30-60 mm.

Description:

Cap: similarly coloured to G. hypnorum, but with a few white silky fibrils.

Stem: coloured as the cap, but with white silky fibrils when young.

Gills and flesh: as in G. hypnorum, but it has no smell.

Spore-print: rust-colour.

Spores: medium-sized, ellipsoid, pale golden yellow under the microscope, smooth and 9-11 × 5-6 µm in size.

Marginal cystidia: club-shaped, cylindrical and with distinct rounded heads.

Facial cystidia: absent.

General Information: G. mniophila (Lasch) Kühner is similar to or slightly larger than C. mycenopsis, but differs in its dull honey-coloured cap and stem, and distinctly roughened spores. G. calyptrata P. D. Orton is small and has been long confused with G. hypnorum; it, however, is of a much brighter orange-colour, with distinct white fibrils on the cap and has spores which have a distinct envelope, sometimes separating as a loose covering. G. vittaeformis (Fries) Moser is a red-brown fungus with 2-spored basidia, facial cystidia, minutely hairy stem, and very rough spores; it grows in moss in pastures as well as on moss-cushions.

(vi) Heath and mountain fungi