On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:07:55 +0100, Rusty Hinge
wrote:

The message
from Stephen Howard contains these words:


Fairy ring Champignon?
Errr, no it doesn't.
The op mentions small, brown roundheaded toadstools.

Which is how M. oreades appears.

It might appear like that, but the op states this as a recurring
problem - so one would expect that the description applies to the
mature specimen.

M. Oredeades spans about two inches max, and is distinctly buff in
colour with a small umbo ( central dome ). Most people would refer to
it as being white in its early stages.

Buff, brown, whatever, I always give some latitude for colour as a very
high proportion of men are colour blind to some extent.

However, I would never refer to the fruit bodies as white at any stage
of their development above ground.

I've seen them pretty close to cream - typically when a hot spell
follows the arrival of the fruiting bodies - but very few people would
have much trouble distinguishing them from a definitely brown fungus.

I'd bet ten bob they're one of the Hygrocybes, with half a crown on
the side for an Enteloma.

Just make sure they *ARE* Merasmius oreades, and keep the area well
watered and thank The Lord for the natural harvest.

...and hope to whichever god you believe in that you don't them mixed
up with one of the very similar looking Clitocybes.

Most of which are either harmless or edible, though C. rivulosa is
deadly. Personally though, I can't see how anyone who knows M. oreades
could possibly confuse the two, despite many good handbooks warning of
the possibility. (I've been eating M.oreades since 1950 or thereabouts,
and I think I'm still alive.)

Always look for the nipple
Bet few men would have any problems there!

Regards,



--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk