Mushrooms

[gigglybug]

I found these and was wondering if anyone can help me identify them? They were growing in a childrens play area growing among the bark.

















Thankyou

[MKG]

Well, I've waited with you, Gigglybug.

Maybe if you'd posted this in the Identification topic right at the top of the page?

Or if you'd headed it "Naked Ladies". That would have got a response or two.

Mike

[Carltonian Man]

Hi Amanda

Well, I'm going to come clean and admit to skulking about at the back of the crowd hoping some one else would take up the challenge, but here goes; the results of more than a happy hour of internet and book trawling (purely for interest, one book contains 1751 illustrations and over 3,000 references. Unfortunately the foreword states it doesn't represent all species growing in Europe...aaarrrggghhh ) so apologies in advance for any discrepancies. Also, the wood chips might be throwing up confusing growing conditions (type of wood etc or the mycelium could be already in the ground).

Top, genus Mycena possibly Sepia
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/ ... ame=Mycena


Next, Coprinus Micaceus
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/ ... e=Coprinus


Orange one, Hygrocybe Strangulata
http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/ ... =Hygrocybe
This one bugs me, Hygrocybe Strangulata is uncommon and should be growing in grass so possibly incorrect.


Bottom, genus Pluteus possibly Primus or Podospileus. Sorry about the silly long link, once there you'll have to scroll down to see the pics
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... 8%26um%3D1

I'm guessing you'd like to know if they pose a threat to the kiddies. Apart from they could cause loss of traction to to a fast-cornering child, providing my identifications are correct these fungus shouldn't present any particular dangers. I'm not saying they're edible and as always should be treated with the same respect as any other wild plant.

Hope this helps
Kind regards
Martin

[Hedgehogpie]

Good for you for stepping up CM. I've been looking and trying to find things that match but to be honest it's really very hard to be sure from photographs. As you point out woodchip is quite difficult as it can have come from just about anywhere (sometimes even tropical sources) and because of that it is possible to find all kinds of oddities growing on it.

I will say that I'm not completely sure about the suggestion of coprinus micaceus (mica cap) because the shape doesn't look quite right to me and it's one I'm fairly familiar with, Pluteus is a distinct possibility for the larger fungi though.

If you feel at all doubtful about the safety of the children it's a simple matter to remove them either by hand or by raking then off. But before you considered that, another approach could be to teach the kids a little about fungi, how to be safe around them and the interesting way that they reproduce. You could cut open some samples & do some spore prints for example, look at them closely under a magnifying glass or microscope, or see if they have any smell - a few carefully managed explorations that might even help you to figure out what they are.

Have fun!

[gigglybug]

Thankyou for the great info!!!

And especially for all your hard work!!

(My mum and I already removed them just to be on the safe side)

[mikec]

thanks, thats been helpful