Inocybe fastigiata - Torn Fibrecap

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Inocybe fastigiata occurs under broad-leaf trees, in summer and autumn. This fungus contains the dangerous poison muscarine, and so it must be avoided at all costs when gathering fungi to eat.

Inocybe is a difficult genus, with numerous 'little brown mushrooms' (LBMs as they are commonly called) that to the naked eye appear to be identical until they are examined under a microscope.

Identification guide

	Cap The smooth, silky cap has a diameter of 3 to 10cm. Initially conical, it flattens as it matures, usually retaining a pointed umbo and streaky radial fibres that in dry weather tend to split radially towards the edge of the cap. Beneath the cap surface the flesh is white and does not change colour on exposure to air.
	Gills The crowded, adnexed or adnate gills start off creamy-grey with white edges, and they turn olive-brown as the spores mature.
Stem	5 to 12mm in diameter and 3 to 9cm tall, the pale stem is smooth and silky, sometimes slightly fibrillose towards the base, where it is straw-yellow.
Spore print	Dull brown.
Odour/taste	Slightly mealy smell. Reported to have a mild taste (but please be aware that this is a poisonous fungus).
Habitat	Beneath deciduous trees, most notably beech.
Season	Late June to November.
Occurrence	Common.
Similar species	The white variety of Inocybe geophylla is rather smaller and paler. Inocybe patouillardii is pale cream rather than straw yellow, and it bruises brick red; it is deadly poisonous.