13th November 2018, Petts Wood and Hawkwood

This was my second visit to Petts Wood and Hawkwood this year. Mid-November is a bit late in the season but still I found quite a few mushrooms.

The highlights of this foray were Lilac Mushroom and Clitocybe truncicola, neither of which I’ve seen before. The Lilac Mushroom was very characteristically lilac/purplish and a very pretty specimen. Clitocybe truncicola is very rare so my identification has to be very tentative. The spore shape and size is absolutely correct and the habitat on a rotting stump points to C. truncicola. I cannot find an alternative classification that fits these characteristics.


1. Lilac Pinkgill (Entoloma porphyrophaeum).
Growing through grass. Two. Cap 4-6cm. Stem 9cm. No smell. Brittle flesh. My spore size is rather smaller than the book value - not sure why as the id looks fairly sure. ID is very likely. Sporeprint Pink. Spores 7-8.5µ x 5.5-7.5µ.

2. Unidentified.
Growing in earth in hedge bank, possibly from buried twig. A few scattered around. Cap up to 4cm. Stem up to 5cm. No smell. Sporeprint Tan with a pinkish tinge. Spores 5.5-7µ x 4.5-6µ.

3. Drab Bonnet (Mycena aetites).
Growing through grass in field. Many scattered in groups. Cap up 1.5cm. Stem up to 5cm. No smell. I thought this was a type of Conecap (Conocybe) initially, but with a white spore print it can only be a Bonnet (Mycena). ID is almost sure. Sporeprint White. Spores 8-12µ x 6-7.5µ.

4. Lilac Mushroom (Agaricus porphyrizon).
Growing on soil in broadleaf woods. One. Cap 10cm. Stem 9cm. Mild mushroom smell. Lovely pinkish/lilac tinge. Pedulous ring. ID is very likely. Sporeprint Darkish brown. Spores 4-5.5µ x 2.5-4µ.

5. Psathyrella pseudogracilis.
Growing through grass in field. Many scattered singly. Cap 2-2.5cm. Stem up to 10cm. No smell. ID is very likely. Sporeprint Black. Spores 10.5-13µ x 7-8µ.

6. Clitocybe truncicola.
Growing through moss on rotting stump. One. Cap 3cm. Stem 3cm. No smell. This id is very tentative because Clitocybe truncicola is very rare, but most characteristics are correct, especially the spore shape and size and the habitat. ID is possible. Sporeprint White. Spores 3.5-4.5µ x 2.5-3.5µ.

7. Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae).
Growing on rotting branch. Several grouped and singly. Up to 3cm. No smell, perhaps very slightly mushroomy. These are smaller than the Jelly Ears I normally see. Sporeprint White. Spores 14.5-21.5µ x 7-9.5µ.

8. Shaggy Parasol (Macrolepiota rhacodes).
Growing through leaf litter in mixed woods. One. Cap 9cm. Stem 10cm. Slight mushroom smell. ID is almost sure. Sporeprint White. Spores 7-9.5µ x 5.5-7µ.

9. Small Stagshorn (Calocera cornea).
Growing on rotting log. Many groups. Up to 1cm long. Sporeprint White. Spores 5-8.5µ x 4-5.5µ.