Lepista multiformis

Lepista multiformis

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Tricholomataceae

All too easily mistaken for a Field Blewit (Lepista saeva), this uncommon member of the same genus is an uncommon find or even rare in most parts of Britain but much more common in alpine regions of Europe and in Scandinavia. Lepista multiformis is reportedly edible, but because of its scarcity in Britain collecting it is not recommended.

The specimens shown here were in coastal grassland at Ynyslas (Dyfi National Nature Reserve) in West Wales in October 2011.

Identification Guide

Cap

4 to 12cm across, convex and later depressed often with a wavy margin; smooth all over or smooth with a slightly fibrilose region close to the margin; vinaceous brown to liver brown when wet, drying to a more pinkish brown or yellowish brown.

Gills

Decurrent, crowded, whitish when very young,soon becoming pinkish brown when mature; often with reddish gill edges.

Stem

3.5 to 10cm long and 5 to 20mm diameter.; fibrillose; tawny, but somewhat paler than the cap; no ring.

Spore print

Pale pink or pale clay.

Spores 6 to 7.5(9) x 3.5 to 5μm.

Odour/taste

Slightly aromatic odour; pleasant, mild taste.

Habitat

In small tufts more often than singly, in all kinds of grassland including leaf-litter-rich roadside verges and other disturbed, grassy areas; sometimes producing fairy rings in lawns and parks.

Season

August to October.

Occurrence

Infrequent.

Similar species

Lepista flaccida, the Tawny Funnel, occurs in woodland habitats.