Psathyrella candolleana - Pale Brittlestem

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

In the past more commonly referred to as the Common Crumblecap, Psathyrella candolleana is a very delicate member of the inkcap family. This fungus occurs in all kinds of woodlands and woodland clearings as well as on timber buried in damp grassland.

The specific epithet is nothing to do with candles; it is in honour of the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841). His botanical author abbreviation is DC.

Identification Guide

	Cap The cap is thin-fleshed and very crumbly; typically 3 to 6cm in diameter.
	Gills The gills are adnexed, crowded and initially white, becoming pinky-grey and eventually very dark brown as the spores mature. These fungi do not deliquesce (dissolve) at maturity.
Stem	up to 6cm tall, with a diameter of 3 to 5 mm; white and very brittle.
Spore print	Black.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	Appearing in small groups or occasionally singly on soil in woodland or in well-shaded grassland.
Season	June to November.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Psathyrella hydrophila has a darker cap, is smaller and usually grows in much larger groups; it is almost invariably on or beside broad-leaf tree stumps.