Psathyrella piluliformis - Common Stump Brittlestem

Cap

The cap is initially hemispherical, becoming bell-shaped and eventually almost flat. White veil fragments adhere to and overhang the rim; they get smaller as the fruitbody ages, eventually becoming blackened by spores.

These fragile caps usually crowd together in clumps, some of the caps getting broken as others expand beside them.

Initially caps are dark red-brown, fading through date-brown to yellow-brown. Mature specimens are noticeably hygrophanous: they change colour depending on whether the surface is moist or dry, becoming pale tan or beige from the edge of the cap in dry weather.

Gills

The narrow gills are adnate and quite closely spaced; initially pinkish beige, they turn deep chocolate brown and eventually almost black.

The gills of this species are very brittle,

Stem

Typically 4 to 8mm in diameter and up to 8 cm long, the stems of this caespitose (clump-forming) fungus are straight or slightly curved.

A this white ring (the partial veil) soon tears as the cap expands, leaving white fragments attached to the cap rim and little or no evidence on the stem, which has a matt, floury (pruinose) surface near the apex and is much smoother towards the base.

As the fruit bodies mature, falling spores darken the stems, most noticeably towards the base.

Spore print

Black.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

On the stumps or buried branches of broad-leaved trees; very occasionally on conifer stumps. Favouring damp, darkish woods.

Season

March to December, but most plentiful in summer and autumn.

Occurrence

Very common.

Similar species

Kuehneromyce mutabilis, the Wood Tuft or Brown Stew Fungus, also grows in tufts on stumps; it has a ring on the stem, and the stem is brown and, rather than being smooth, is covered in scales at the base.