About this fungus
Greenfoot Fibrecap is a fungus in the Inocybaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A small, rough-textured woodland mushroom with a dark brown cap and stem covered in coarse upright scales. Its memorable feature is the blue-green to olivaceous colour at the stem base, although this can weaken with age, moisture and local conditions.
What to check
Look for a dry, scaly-hirsute cap and similarly rough stem, whitish to olive-brown gills that mature brown, and a brown-ochre spore print. The lower stem is usually blue-green or grey-green and exposed flesh may slowly redden above it. A short-lived cortina can occur when young, but there is no persistent ring or volva. Microscopy and regional ecology may be needed for full confidence.
Lookalikes
Several species formerly grouped around Inocybe calamistrata are now recognised separately by DNA, ecology and microscopic characters. Inosperma praetermissum, Inosperma neohirsutum and related taxa can overlap in rough texture and greenish stem colour. The combination is distinctive but not proof outside a well-understood regional species concept.
Habitat and range
Ectomycorrhizal on soil in humid coniferous, broad-leaved and mixed forest, often near paths. Verified European Inosperma calamistratum is associated with temperate to montane forest, while many older boreal, alpine and non-European records require reassessment under the modern species complex.
Food safety
Inedible.
Photographs
vjp / CC BY-SA 3.0