Conocybe apala - Milky Conecap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Common synonym(s)

Conocybe lactea

Very much a morning mushroom, this pallid little grassland conecap rarely survives beyond mid afternoon on sunny days. Triggered by heavy rainshowers, these very pointed caps shine like white stars in a green sky. Close-cropped grassland such as lawns and dune slacks seems to suit them best, but they do also appear on woodchip mulch.

Identification Guide

Cap	0.8 to 1.5cm in diameter, the elongated caps are sharply conical and often become bell-shaped shortly before collapsing. The surface is smooth and milky white, eventually turning pale beige, with a weakly-lined margin. The cap flesh is very thin and often splits from the edge.
	Gills Adnexed and initially pale ochre, the moderately spaced gills soon become rust coloured as the spores mature.
Stem	2 to 3mm in diameter and 3 to 6cm long, white with a cream tint; slightly granular near the apex and covered in fine down below. The slender stem, which has no ring, is extremely fragile.
Spore print	Rust-brown.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	On lawns, in parks and on other close-cropped grassland, occasionally on woodchip mulch; following rain, and lasting less than 24 hours.
Season	June to October.
Occurrence	Very common.