Fungi
Caps on stems; gills below caps [mushrooms or mushroom-like]
Sighting 4250307

Coprinus sp.

Coprinus at Bald Hills, NSW

Coprinus sp. at Bald Hills, NSW - 18 Feb 2020
Coprinus sp. at Bald Hills, NSW - 18 Feb 2020
Request use of media

Identification history

Coprinus sp. 19 Feb 2020 Pam
Unidentified 18 Feb 2020 alexandraseddon

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

9 comments

JackieMiles wrote:
   19 Feb 2020
Hi Alexandra, Welcome to Naturemapr. Hope you'll keep contributing. Max and I have been seeing this little fungus popping up too after the rain - Coprinus something I think, but I'll leave it to fungi folk to name it for you. It's a good idea to try and get a shot of the gills on the underside too, in fact as many shots from as many angles as seems likely to be helpful: top down, side on etc. You can put up as many as 5 photos per sighting. Jackie
alexandraseddon wrote:
   19 Feb 2020
Dear Jackie,
How truly wonderful to have a reply from you! I just took the photo for my own pleasure because the last time I saw it, it vanished (maybe to spread its spores quickly?)
before I got the photo. Then Anna Lindstrand put it on the Atlas of Life. Next time I will make sure to be looking through more scientific eyes.
With love to you and Max
Alexandra
JackieMiles wrote:
   19 Feb 2020
Hi Alexandra, Yeah, that particular little fungus is very short-lived. They just melt in the space of a day or two I think. Keep the observations coming. I think you'll find it's a fun thing to do. We've learnt heaps since getting involved. Jackie
Pam wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
I've confirmed a Coprinus sp. though was a little confused when I looked at the ground around the fungus. It has a number of fine pale threads that I normally associate with Mycena cystidiosa!! Though looking at the centre of the cap it is flat and more typical of the Coprinus group. Any comment Jackie? Nice image - keep up the good work Alexandra. Always interesting to have a little bit of a challenge!
JackieMiles wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
Hi Pam, I noticed the white threads too, but was too ignorant to realise they were a problem with calling it Coprinus. The cap shape with the upturned frayed looking margin and the pleated sort of effect made me think immediately of Coprinus and I didn't even look at Mycena. But none of our Mycena shots seem to be a match to that cap shape. Another vague possibility is that it is growing among Kikuyu and the white threads are its stamens. Alexandra - any Kikuyu in the vicinity?
alexandraseddon wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
Thankyou , Pam. I have looked closely just now and there are no longer any white threads visible! They, along with the Coprinus, have vanished. There is no kikuyu at all on the side where the white threads were. Just a brick wall and some Grape hyacinths.
There was a bit of kikuyu on the far side, about 10 cm away. I pulled it out and it did not seem to have any inclination to spread in the direction of the Coprinus.
alexandraseddon wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
I will be more careful next time and photograph the gills. I just examined the ground closely with my spectacles on and could find no white threads at all. Could they have been destroyed by the hail last night?
JackieMiles wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
Hi Alexandra, OK scrap the kikuyu idea as a possible explanation then - its flowers consist of fine white threads, but usually shorter than the ones in your photo. Fungi can be pretty ephemeral, so it's not surprising you couldn't find anything today, especially with little delicate ones like that. Hail eh? We missed out on that. Not even any rain to speak of.
Pam wrote:
   20 Feb 2020
I still think Coprinus is still the best fit. Even if there were Mycena cystidiosa pseudorhizomorphs around it still doesn't rule out a Coprinus coming up as well. As I said the centre of the cap fits this genus better than that of the Mycena mentioned. The joys of fungal identification.............

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 18 Feb 2020 12:00 AM Recorded on
  • alexandraseddon Recorded by

Species information

2,152,973 sightings of 19,940 species in 6,475 locations from 11,410 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.