#kuehneromyces

Wimbledon Common, London, November 2019

Woodtufts (Kuehneromyces mutabilis)

A combination of a busy term, an election, and freezing weather means I haven’t gotten out to the woods much lately, hence the lack of posts.

These mushrooms were gorgeously photographed by my sister’s girlfriend, sent to me at her request - I suspect they are Woodtufts, because of the clustered growth, dark base of the stem, cinnamon-brown gills, although of course with only a high-exposure gill shot it’s impossible to tell for certain. What an absolutely beautiful photo, though! 

Kuehneromyces mutabilis | ©Hans-Peter Hein

Synonyms: Galerina mutabilis, Pholiota mutabilis.

The Sheathed woodtuft, Kuehneromyces mutabilis (Strophariaceae), is an attractive species of mushroom also called Brown Stew Fungus and Two-toned Pholiota, so-called because the hygrophanous cap is a shiny cinnamon-orange when wet but it dries a much lighter tan colur.

This fungus appears throughout the year, often in large tufts, on stumps of hardwood (broadleaf) trees. Occasionally these colourful little mushrooms appear to be growing on the forest floor.

This wood-rotting mushroom is widespread and very common throughout Britain and Ireland as well as in all other European countries from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean and in many parts of Asia. Kuehneromyces mutabilis is also native to Australia and to North America, where it is equally widespread and abundant [1].