Identify the 'Shroom(s)

[Scorpius]

Okay, so I have these unidentifyable 'shrooms growing in the shade of my house.

Follow the links to see pics:
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sailor_scorpius/IM000415.jpg
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sailor_scorpius/IM000418.jpg
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sailor_scorpius/IM000417.jpg
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sailor_scorpius/IM000414.jpg
http://img39.photobucket.com/albums/v121/sailor_scorpius/IM000413.jpg (<--the ones on the right were growing under a rock, the ones on the left were fully exposed)

They feel mushroom-like in texture, are growing in the shade of my house in an area of sand, dirt, gravel and verious construction debris; former site of a mossy rock wall (I know, I miss it too :cry: )

Can anyone help me Identify the 'Shrooms???
(...sorry no cash prizes involved should you correctly ID them, just the satisfaction of knowing you helped a fellow veg :D )

[Jimdavis]

Do you know how to take spore prints?

Jim

[Scorpius]

^
I have no idea what you're talking about

[Jimdavis]

A picture from the underside as close up as possible would also be helpful, as would a picture from the side to see how it attaches to the rock.

Jim

[Kreeli]

to take spore prints, pick a couple of the mushrooms (gently) and place one on a light sheet of paper and one on a dark sheet of paper, wait a few hours for the spores to drop out of the gills, and then tell us what colour the prints are.

it would also help to know what part of the US you live in.

[Jimdavis]

Exactly what Kreeli said, though I would recommend looking at this site just to understand what's going on. I would also recommend covering the mushroom and paper with a bowl or glass to prevent air currents from obscuring the print because the shape can matter.
http://www.bluewillowpages.com/mushroomexpert/spore_print.html

Jim

[Scorpius]

I'm in New England and they're not growing on rocks; they're planted right into the dirt/sand.
Thanks for the tips. I'll try to get some prints also.

[kirkjobsluder]

Hard to tell because the images are a bit fuzzy. My best guess is blue-staining cup based on blue stains apparent on some specimens but that could be lighting. If it has blue or green green stains, it is definitely blue-staining cup. The other most likely possibility is common brown cup. (Using National Audobon Society as the field guide.)

I don't think that spore prints would be really that helpful in this case. There isn't a stalk, is there?

[Kreeli]

my husband and i are crazy about fungi! our favourite thing is to go on walks and try to identify all the mushrooms and fungi we see. let us know what you find out. http://www.mushroomexpert.com has some great photos and links to different sites that might help you identify what you've got. they are very cool looking little cup fungi. in my experience, though most cup fungi aren't poisonous, they aren't particularly good-tasting.

[Kreeli]

oh...ooops, jim already posted a link to that site. sawry for the redundancy. ;)

[Kamila]

The first photo could almost be an Earth Fan Thelephora terrestris. Do not eat this inedible shroom.

Ibid on the rest of the photos.

[slynny]

Wow, good to know we have a few shroom people here! I know nothing about them.