Gymnopus peronatus - Wood Woollyfoot

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Gymnopus peronatus (syn. Collybia peronata) is commonly referred to as the Wood Woollyfoot, on account of the lower half of the stem being covered in fine white hairs. This widespread and common mushroom of leaf litter is poisonous; its cap colour is also very variable, which can make confident identification more difficult.

The Wood Woollyfoot is an inedible species with a very peppery taste.

Commonly known as the Wood Woolly-foot, this attractive little mushroom is sometimes recorded under the scientific names Marasmius peronatus or Marasmius urens.

Identification Guide

Cap	3 to 6cm in diameter, the convex caps expand and flatten out at maturity.
Gills	Unlike other members of the former Collybia genus, whose gills remain white or pale cream, Rhodocollybia peronatus matures with red-brown gills - a useful distinguishing characteristic. The adnexed gills are pale at first, becoming reddish-brown as the fruiting body matures.
	Stem 4 to 6mm in diameter and 4 to 8cm tall, the lower half of the stems of this species are covered in small pale hairs.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Odour not distinctive; taste very peppery.
Habitat	In leaf litter beneath broad-leaf trees and hedgerows, and under bracken on heathland.
Season	July to October.
Occurrence	Fairly frequent.
Similar species	Laccaria laccata, the Deceiver, is similarly coloured but does not have pale woolly hairs at the base of its stipe.