Calocybe carnea

Taxobox
color = lightblue
name = "Calocybe carnea"
status = Occasional to Fairly Frequent

---

image_width=250px
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Agaricomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Tricholomataceae
genus = "Calocybe"
species = "C. carnea"
binomial = "Calocybe carnea"
binomial_authority = (Bull.) Donk
synonyms= "Tricholoma carneum" (Bull.) P.Kumm
"Lyophyllum carneum" (Bull.) Kuhner & Romagn.
"Rugosomyces carneus" (Bull:Fr.) Boncite book | author = Regis Courtecuisse and Bernard Duhem | year = (British version) 1995 | title = Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe | publisher = Harper Collins | isbn = 0 00 220025 2]
"Clitocybe socialis"mycomorphbox
name = Calocybe carnea
whichGills = adnexed
whichGills2 = sinuate
which Gills3 = free
capShape = convex
capShape2=flat
hymeniumType=gills
stipeCharacter= bare
sporePrintColor=white
howEdible=edible

"Calocybe carnea" is a small pink-capped mushroom with white gills that can be found in grassy meadows, fields, or on lawns from spring to autumn in Europe and North America. Its common names include Pink Fairheadcite book | author = Thomas Laessoe | year = 1998 | title = Mushrooms (flexi bound) | Publisher = Dorling Kindersley | isbn = 0-7513-1070-0] and Pink Domecap.cite book | author = Roger Phillips | year = 2006 | title = Mushrooms | publisher = Pan MacMillan | isbn = 0-330-44237-6|pages=p. 104] Although edible, it is small and thin-fleshed and potentially confused with poisonous species.

Taxonomy

Originally described as "Agaricus carneus" by the French mycologist Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard in 1792, this small pink mushroom has been through many taxonomical name changes over many years, and as a result has had many binomial names. A few of these are listed in the Synonyms section in the box at right. Its present species name, "carnea", is derived from the Latin for "flesh-coloured". [cite book|author = Simpson DP| title = Cassell's Latin Dictionary | publisher = Cassell Ltd.| date = 1979|edition = 5|location = London|pages = 883| isbn=0-304-52257-0] The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek terms "kalos" "pretty", and "cubos" "head". [cite book | author = Nilson S & Persson O | year = 1977 | title = Fungi of Northern Europe 2: Gill-Fungi | publisher = Penguin|isbn=0-14-063006-6|pages=p. 24]

Description

The cap is 1.5 - 4 cm (0.6-1.6 in) in diameter. It is usually pale pink, but can be darker, pinker, or redder. It usually fades with age. At first it is convex, but later flattens, and has a tendency to become wavy. It is smooth and dry. The stem is up to 4 cm (1.6 in) high and the same colour as the cap, and is smooth, or finely fibrillose; cite book |author=David Arora |year=1986 |title=Mushrooms Demystified |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=0-89815-169-4|pages=p. 176] often narrowing towards the base, and often misshapen. The gills are adnexed to almost free; sinuate; sometimes notched and are white, giving a spore print of the same colour. They are quite closely spaced initially. The flesh is white; with very little taste, or smell.

A similar species, "Calocybe persicolor" (Fr.) Singer, grows in tufts, has a liking for manured ground, and is sometimes recorded as a variety or variant of "C. carnea".

Distribution and habitat

"Calocybe carnea" appears in spring, summer, and early autumn (usually after rain). It is frequent in Britain, Europe, Asia, and North America, growing in grassy meadows and fields and on lawns. It is very rarely found in woods, unless a grassy clearing is present. It seems to tolerate agricultural practices, because its fruiting bodies often appear on fertilized farmland.

Edibility

This mushroom is edible, but is unsubstantial, as it is small and thin fleshed. It is also potentially confused with poisonous species.

References