Inocybe sindonia

Inocybe sindonia

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Inocybaceae

Inocybe sindonia is not a common species in northern Europe, although it is found quite frequently in some parts of southern Europe. This mushroom has no generally accepted common name - another clue that it is not likely to feature frequently in fungus forays.

Particularly in areas of heavy clay soil, look out for this smallish but pale and so not hard-to-spot fibrecap in woods; it occurs in broadleaf woodlands and in conifer plantations.

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

2 to 6cm in diameter, obtusely conical-convex, not flattening completely and often retaining a small umbo; finely fibrillose at first, eventually tending to become finely scaly.

Beneath the cap surface the flesh is whitish.

Gills of Inocybe sindonia

Gills

The crowded, adnexed gills start off greyish-yellow and they darken a little with age.

Stem

2 to 8mm in diameter and 2.5 to 10cm tall, the pale stem is cylindrical, sometimes with a slightly swollen or clavate base; pruinose; whitish, sometimes with a pinkish tinge in the upper part.

Spore print

Dull brown.

Odour/taste

Not significant

Habitat

Beneath deciduous trees and conifers.

Season

Late August to November.

Occurrence

Uncommon. 

Similar species

The white variety of Inocybe geophylla is rather smaller and paler.