Tubaria conspersa

Description

Tubaria conspersa is a species of Fungi in the family Tubariaceae. This pale russet-brown little toadstool is hygrophanous and becomes more ochraceous as it dries out. What differentiates it from several similar Tubaria species is its finely scaly cap and the persistent fleecy white scales at the margin.

Common names: Felted Twiglet.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   The cap, initially convex and then flattened, 0.8 - 2.2cm in diameter, is minutely scaly with velar remnants, which also hang from its margin ragged. When young and fresh the caps are pinkish to russet brown but, being hygrophanous, they turn more ochraceous with age or in prolonged dry weather.

2. Gills

   The distant gills, which are much the same color as the cap, are adnate or slightly decurrent.

3. Stem

   Stems are cylindrical, 3-5cm long and 2-3mm in diameter, scaly when young but becoming smoother as they age; stem color is like the cap, and the stem flesh is pale brown. There is no stem ring.

4. Cystidia

   Cheilocystidia (on gill edges) and pleurocystidia (on gill faces) are narrowly cylindrical and up to 72 µm long.

5. Spores

   Ellipsoidal, smooth, 7-10 x 4-6µm.

6. Spore Print

   Ochre brown.

7. Odor and Taste

   Not distinctive.

8. Habitat & Ecological Role

   In leaf litter beneath deciduous trees and bushes or on well-rotted hardwood; also on the wood chip used as a mulch in parks and gardens.

9. Season

   Late summer and autumn in Britain and Ireland.

10. Similar Species

    Tubaria dispersa has a smoother cap, and smaller spores, and is always associated with Hawthorn trees and bushes.

History

In 1800 Christiaan Hendrik Persoon described this little mushroom and gave it the scientific name Agaricus conspersus.

It was Swiss mycologist Victor Fayod (1860 - 1900) who, in 1889, transferred this species to its present genus, thereby establishing its currently-accepted scientific name as Tubaria conspersa.

Tubaria is a small genus of about 20 species worldwide. The genus name may refer to a pipeline or connection.

The specific epithet conspersa is derived from the Latin adjective conspersus or consparsus meaning sprinkled, scattered or strewn - a reference to the common sight of scattered groups of these twiglet toadstools.

Synonyms

1. Agaricus conspersus Pers., 1800

2. Hylophila conspersa (Pers.) Quél., 1886

3. Inocybe conspersa (Pers.) Roze, 1876

4. Naucoria conspersa (Pers.) P.Kumm., 1871

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Jacob Kalichman (Pulk) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Byrain (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Björn S... (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photo 4 - Author: James Lindsey (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Photo 5 - Author: James Lindsey (CC BY-SA 2.5)