Fairy Inkcap - Coprinellus disseminatus

A small yellowish-grey inkcap that is usually in large crowded clusters on stumps, etc.  The caps are bell-shaped or hemispherical, plicate (pleated) and with fine hairs (use hand lens) and a fine granular surface which is formed by the spherical cell remnants of the veil. The gills are whitish, soon blackening.  The stem is whitish and pubescent.

Psathyrella pygmaea is very similar and according to Kibby (2021) is often found growing with Coprinellus disseminatus.  It does not have a granular cap surface or minute hairs on the caps, but may have fine white fibrils. 

Under the microscope, C disseminatus had pileocystidia, unlike P pygmaea 

Photograph the whole clump in its habitat, and a close-up of an individual fungus with details of cap, and underneath to show gills and stipe.

on stumps and logs

May-October

Widespread and very common (Kibby, Vol.3, 2021)

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.