Conical Brittlestem - Parasola conopilea
The cap is conical or bell-shaped, shiny when wet and a deep rich brown, drying paler cream. The cap surface has fine golden hairs that can be seen with a hand lens. Gills are brown with a purplish tint and a pale edge, and the spores print is dark brown. Stalk (stipe) is long, slender and whitish, soon hollow and brittle.
Some Psathyrella species are similar but have a veil and lack the fine hairs on the cap
Photograph in side view and from underneath to show gills and full length of stipe. Your photos should also show hairs on the cap. Note habitat and substrate
Gardens parks and copses, often on pieces of rotten wood or woodchip.
Best in Autumn
Widespread and common. (Kibby, V3, 2021)
Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
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Species profile
- Common names
- Conical Brittlestem
- Species group:
- fungus
- Kingdom:
- Fungi
- Order:
- Agaricales
- Family:
- Psathyrellaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 2
- First record:
- 21/09/2010 (Calow, Graham)
- Last record:
- 10/10/2012 (Nicholls, David)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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