Continuing my pursuit of photographing UK mushrooms, here is a quite delightful Iodine Bonnet, also known more scientifically as Mycena Filopes. Mycena belongs to the large genus of Saprotrophic family, which means they seek nutrients from decomposing dead organisms. They are split into three groups: Fungi, Bacteria, & Water Mould. For this context, we are focusing on the former so therefore are found growing on dead & rotting wood. The benefit of this mushroom is it delivers the nutrients from it's host back into the ground in the form of hummus, minerals, &/or nutrients to be utilised by plants. With this process, they help to break down matter quicker & thus return life back into soil at a faster rate. We shall cover this in greater depth as part of my Fungi Series here on my blog, so please keep a look out.
Cap: Conical (cone/triangular) becoming sometimes Campanulate (Bell) in maturity which collapses with also with age. Can differentiate in colour & also size I have seen. With darker umbo & lighter (particularly white) margin. Tends to have a tan look between umbo & margin.
Spores: White.
Gills: Emarginate (notched before attaching), to upper stem by a small tooth. Can be white or pale grey.
Stipe: Generally greyish in colour/lilac tints with fine hairs at the base. 1-3 mm thick.
Skirt: N/A
Flesh: Pallid or greyish
Surface: Smooth
Size/Height: 2 cm - 2.5 cm across (Cap)/5cm-12cm in height
Edible: Mild taste
Habitat: Mixture of woodland trees including conifer. Present on wood debris & leaf matter & lawns. They are a common spread mushroom throughout the UK.
Season: July - December
Confusion Species: Mycena Metata - Surface of the Pileus (cap) doesn't appear to have rimrose or without texture. Also lacks apparent silver glow (lustre), with cap (&/or lamellae) having a pinkish appearance. Umbo can be pink/tan. Seen summer - late autumn.
Other notes: It gets it's name from it's faint smell of Iodine. Tread finely as these can be very small popping up through dense leaves.
Pictures taken: 17/12/2021
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