Brittle Caps
This is a large group of usually fragile, long stemmed saprophytic Agarics, with caps that often show a marked change in colour on becoming damp or dry. They show velar remnants at the margin of the cap when young. Spores purple-black to black. (see also a sterile form of Psathyrella (32.jpg)). In Britain about 100 species of the genera Psathyrella and Lacrymaria occur. Most species can only be identified with certainty by microscopic characters of young specimens.
Listed taxa:
- Psathyrella ammophila, Marram Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella artemisiae, Scaly Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella bipellis
- Psathyrella candolleana, Common Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella caput-medusae, Marram Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella conopilus, Silvery Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella marcescibilis
- Psathyrella multipedata, Tufted Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella obtusata, Obtuse Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella piluliformis, Common Stump Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella prona f. prona
- Psathyrella spadicea, Bag Brittle Cap
- Psathyrella typhae
- Lacrymaria lacrymabunda, Velvety Brittle Cap