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Psathyrella caput-medusaePhoto: Leif StridvallBack to the BAP list |
DescriptionGeneral: Very distinctive medium-sized whitish to pale brown, scaly agaric with greyish-brown gills and whitish stem; in small tufts on and around conifer stumps.Dimensions: Cap 3-5cm dia; stem 5-12cm tall x 0.7-1.3cm dia. Cap: White at first but darker brown or chestnut-brown at the centre, becoming more generally brown with age, decorated with small whitish, adpressed or recurved fibrillose scales, centre remaining smooth; at first conical or paraboloid becoming convex or flattened with obtuse umbo; flesh thick, brown. Gills: Whitish for a long time then dark greyish-brown or chocolate-brown at maturity with white fimbriate edges, ventricose, crowded, broadly adnate. Stem: Whitish, cylindrical, striate and pruinose above the annulus, conspicuously scaly below, scales adpressed, dark brown at the tips or universally brown; annulus membranous, drooping becoming purplish with spores; flesh whitish or pallid brown along cavity, hollow. |
Spores: Dark purplish-brown, smooth, elongated-ellipsoid with prominent appendix at base, 9.0-11.5 x 4.5-5.5 µm. Basidia 4 spored; cystidia very variable - flask- shaped to utriform. Odour: Strong and sweet, like perfume. Taste: Not Distinctive. Chemical Tests: None. Occurrence: Autumn. Action Required: Identification of new locations; protection of sites, survey and monitoring. |
| Qualifying criterion: 4.7: very rare species with restricted UK range |
| Justification: range declined by over 50% pre- and post-1960; distinctive appearance suggests the species is not overlooked |
| Threats: removal of dead conifer wood, changes of land use |
| Action Required: species needs to be relocated and monitored including assessment of specific ecological requirements |
Statistics:UK (excluding NI & CI) fungus records
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Total records: 17 |
| Earliest recording: 1900 | |
| Latest recording: 1985 | |
| Vice Counties and (frequency): 11(1); 36(2); 50(1); 89(10); 96(3) | |
| Pre-1960: 6 records | |
| NBN Gateway grid map | Post-1960: 11 records |