Mycena luteovariegata
Yellowing Bonnet
Status:
Occasional, probably under-recorded.
Meaning 'mushroom'
Cap:
2-5 cm
Stem:
3-6 cm
Meaning yellow especially as irregular patches or streaks.
Description
A beauitful species, but one that could easily confuse you as the colour of the cap can vary so much. From hues of violet, purple, pink and blue it turns cream and then yellow as it ages.
For years this species either was recorded as Lilac Bonnet (Mycena pura) or as Mycena pura f. lutea, but it is now known to be a seperate species.
The habit of growing in grassland (we usually find this species alongside Waxcaps and other good grassland fungi), the smell of radish and the changing tones of cap colour should make it straight forward to identify.
Smell
Radish.
Season
Autumn.
Habitat & Distribution
Grassland, more often on light or slightly alkaline soils. The true distribution of this species will be hard to asses as it has been recorded as just Mycena pura, but we seem to find it often in the right habitat.
Edibility
Poisonous.
Confusion Species
Spores
5.5-7.5 x 2.5-4 µm, ovoid.
Spore Print Colour
White.
Lilac Bonnet (Mycena pura), which for many years this species was considered to be a form of, does not go yellow and is generally found in woodland and not grassland.