Pluteus and identification techniques

Notable dialog here (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80144318) concerning identifying Pluteus, a genus of saprobic fungi that starts appearing mid-spring in Green-Wood and continues through the fall.

Two Pluteus species are most common in Green-Wood: P. petasatis (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&project_id=green-wood-fungi-phenology-project&subview=table&taxon_id=347897) and P. cervinus (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&project_id=green-wood-fungi-phenology-project&subview=table&taxon_id=60782). P. petasatis has a scalier cap and tends to favor wood-chips; P. cervinus tends towards stumps. Michael Kuo of MushroomExpert.com says examining spores is the most definitive way of telling the two apart (https://www.mushroomexpert.com/pluteus_petasatus.html).

Posted on May 26, 2021 02:00 PM by pcpalmer3