Redspored Dapperling

Melanophyllum haematospermum

banner
Appears in
Mushrooms

By Roger Phillips

Published 2006

  • About

Redspored Dapperling Melanophyllum haematospermum (Bull.) Kreisel syn. M. echinatum (Roth) Singer (illustrated 75% life size) Cap 1–3cm across, conico-convex, becoming bell-shaped and finally expanded; dirty grey-brown; granulate-mealy all over, margin shaggy with velar remains. Stem 20–40×1–3mm; vinaceous pink; covered in greyish-brown meal. Flesh whitish in cap, vinaceous in stem, darkening towards the base; thin; smell strong. Gills deep pink at first, soon discolouring vinaceous or brownish-pink. Spores 5–6×2.5–3.5¼, elliptic-subcylindrical. Spore print pallid, dirty grey becoming reddish. Mealy covering of cap formed of brown sphaerocysts. Habitat on burnt ground or in the rich soil of flowerbeds or compost heaps; spring to summer. Occasional. Not edible possibly poisonous.