Created: 2008-09-11 16:37:58

By: Paul Derbyshire (Twizzler)

Summary: Same genera, Inocybe, or Phaeocollybia.

Comment: Maybe just dark brown spores, attached gills, and other features allow a few more possibilities, including Galerina and others, but the closest matches in my field guide are Inocybe and Phaeocollybia. The former are nearly all poisonous with muscarine, basically causing the same effects as low doses of nerve gas (nasty!), and have fibers in the cap. The photos don’t evidence these, which makes me doubt Inocybe. If there was a strong spermatic odor to the mushroom, though, Inocybe it is.

Phaeocollybia tend to occur in big groups and in the Pacific NW, which seems to eliminate them. But the rooting stalk is consistent with Phaeocollybia and there may be species, not in my field guide, found in the east part of the continent.

If I had to hazard a guess I’d go for Psathyrella or Psilocybe still.