Leratiomyces ceres
Redlead Roundhead
Status:
Common.
Named after French botanist Auguste-Joseph Le Rat
Cap:
2-6 cm
Stem:
2-5 cm
Probably from Cerise, which is from the French, meaning "cherry", a reference to red colour.
Description
A species which has increased in its distribution over recent years, presumably as a result of more woodchip being used as mulch, where this species likes to occur. It is quite a distinctive species, usually growing in quite large numbers, and at first their colour is vibrant and with a sticky cap, but this can fade with age or in very dry weather.
Smell
Not distinctive.
Season
Autumn, though occaisonally summer and into winter if it is mild.
Habitat & Distribution
Mainly on woodchip, but sometimes also on very rotted vegetation on basic soils.
Edibility
Not edible.
Confusion Species
Spores
9-14 x 6-7.5 µm, smooth, ellipsoidal.
Spore Print Colour
Browny-purple.
When it is fresh it should be a straight forward species to identify.