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Lacrymaria velutina

 
Commonly referred to as the Weeping Widow, because of the black, watery droplets that appear at the edge of the gills when they are moist, this large fungus is an occasional species in fields and roadside verges.

Identification guide

Cap

Initially bell-shaped with a woolly, in-rolled margin to which pale fragments of the veil remain attached.

At maturity, caps growing to between 4 and 12 cm in diameter, usually retaining a distinct umbo.

The reddish cap surface is radially streaked with yellow and clay brown tinges.

Gills

Adnexed; initially yellow-brown with a very pale edge, but soon becoming blackened with spores.

The gill edges hold black watery droplets when moist.

Stipe

5 to 10 mm diameter; 6 to 12 cm tall; a paler brown than the cap but more russet towards the base; fibrous, with a ring zone of pale fibres that soon become stained black by falling spores.

Spore print

Black.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

In grassland and on verges beside lanes; occasionally also in woodland clearings.

Season

April to November, but most common in late summer and autumn.

Occurrence

Fairly frequent 

Similar species

  1. Could possibly be mistaken for a field mushroom, Agaricus campestris, when young.
  2. Psathyrella candoleana is somewhat similar but smaller and much paler
First Nature Multimedia Guide to Fungi
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