Parasola conopila, also known as the Conical Brittlestem, is a species of fungus characterised by a fragile stem, a dark spore print, and a hygrophanous brown cap that fades to pale beige with age. The cap is striate when young and may have hairs visible with a lens.
This species belongs to the genus Parasola, which was formerly included within the genus Coprinus.
While many small, frail fungi in the Parasola genus have translucent caps where the gills resemble the spokes of a parasol, P. conopilea is an exception to this general characteristic.
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Distribution
Widespread and common
Habitat
Often in large troops on rich soils, woodchips or other woody debris
Cap
With very fine golden setae on surface
| Colour | |
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| Shape | Conical, Campanulate, Expanded |
| Surface | Hygrophanous |
| Width | 2 - 5 cm |
Gills
White edge to gills
| Colour | |
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| Attachment | Free |
| Spacing | crowded |
Flesh
| Colour | |
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| Odour | Not distinct |
Stem
Silky-striate and preuinose at apex, very fragile
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 - 16 cm |
| Width | 2 - 6 mm |
| Texture | Pruinose |
| Shape | Cylindric |
Spores
| Colour | |
|---|---|
| Shape | Ellipsoid, Citriform |
| Ornamentation | Smooth |
| Size | 12.5-17.5 x 6.5-9 μm |
Microscopic Features
Hand lens needed to see setae on cap surface
| Cheilocystidia | Utriform, Lageniform, Subfusiform |
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Classification
- ↳ Phylum: Basidiomycota
- ↳ Subphylum: Agaricomycotina
- ↳ Class: Agaricomycetes
- ↳ Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- ↳ Order: Agaricales
- ↳ Family: Psathyrellaceae
- ↳ Genus: Parasola
Synonyms
- Agaricus aratus Berk.
- Agaricus conopilus Fr.
- Agaricus conopilus f. superbus (Cooke) Cooke
- Agaricus conopilus var. superbus Cooke
- Agaricus subatratus Batsch
- Agaricus superbus Jungh.
- Drosophila conopilea (Fr.) Quel.
- Drosophila conopilus (Fr.) Quél.
- Drosophila subatrata
- Drosophila subatrata var. conopilea (Fr.) Kuhn. & Romagn.
- Parasola conopilea (Fr.) Örstadius & E. Larss.
- Parasola conopilus (Fr.) Örstadius & E. Larss.
- Psathyra conopilea
- Psathyra conopilea var. subatrata (Batsch ex Fr.) J. Lange
- Psathyra conopilus (Fr.) P. Kumm.
- Psathyra conopilus var. subatrata (Batsch) J.E. Lange
- Psathyra conopilus var. superbus (Jungh.) Cooke
- Psathyra elata Massee
- Psathyrella arata Sacc.
- Psathyrella conopilea (Fr.) A. Pearson & Dennis
- Psathyrella conopilus (Fr.) A. Pearson & Dennis
- Psathyrella subatrata (Batsch ex Fr.) Gillet
- Psathyrella subatrata (Batsch) Gillet
- Psilocybe elata Massee
Reference Sources
T. Læssøe, J. H. Peterson (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe Vol. 1. Princeton University Press.
G. Kibby (2021) Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain & Europe Vol. 3. Geoffrey Kibby.
Genus Parasola
No other species found in this genus.
