Species details
Pale brittlestem
Candolleomyces candolleanus
Traditionally edible
Photo: Karim Haddad · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A pale, thin-fleshed mushroom growing singly or in clusters on soil and woody debris, with gills darkening from pale to purplish-brown.
Identification features
Cap about 3–6 cm, yellowish when young, later whitish to buff, thin-fleshed and often with veil remnants at the margin. Gills are whitish first, then pink and finally purplish-brown. Stem is white and slender.
Identification checklist
Check the pale thin-fleshed cap, possible veil remnants at the margin and gills turning purplish-brown with age.
Detailed features
- Cap
- Cap about 3–6 cm, yellowish when young, later whitish to buff, thin-fleshed and often with veil remnants at the margin.
- Hymenophore
- The gills are initially whitish, then pink and finally purplish-brown.
- Stem
- Stem is white and slender.
Size
- Cap diameter
- 3–6 cm
Habitat
Grows in deciduous and mixed woodland, parks, on stumps or soil near woody debris, from late spring to autumn.
Fruiting period
June, July, August, September, October
Ecology
- Substrate
- Stumps
- Notes
- Grows in deciduous and mixed woodland, parks, on stumps or soil near woody debris, from late spring to autumn.
How to separate similar species
Related brittlestems can look similar; old or washed-out specimens require caution.
Similar species
- Psathyrella piluliformis
- Weeping widow (Lacrymaria lacrymabunda)
- Psathyrella species