About this fungus
Pale Brittlestem is a fungus in the Psathyrellaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A fragile clustered mushroom growing from hardwood, buried wood or nearby soil. Moist caps are honey-brown to tan and fade pale cream as they dry, often retaining small white veil fragments around the margin when young.
What to check
Look for a thin hollow white stem, crowded attached gills that mature from pale through grey-pink to dark brown, and a dark purple-brown spore print. The partial veil is short-lived and usually leaves scraps on the cap edge rather than a lasting ring.
Variation
Cap colour changes strongly with moisture and can vary across one cluster. Rain or age may remove every veil fragment, while occasional fruit bodies retain a temporary ring. Mature caps often split or become wavy because the flesh is so fragile.
Lookalikes
Common Stump Brittlestem, Psathyrella piluliformis, is usually darker and forms denser clusters directly around hardwood stumps. Other Candolleomyces species can be extremely close and may need microscopy or DNA. Sulphur Tuft, Hypholoma fasciculare, has stronger yellow tones and develops olive-green gills.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic on and around decaying broad-leaved wood, including stumps, logs, roots, wood chips, lawns and parks where wood is buried. It is widespread, but the familiar field concept includes a group of closely related Candolleomyces species.
Food safety
Edibility is uncertain or disputed.
Photographs
James Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0
James Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0Species to compare
Similar mushrooms to compare against: