Conocybe vaginata

Conocybe vaginata is a species of mushroom-producing fungus in the family Bolbitiaceae.

Taxonomy
It was described in 1979 by the Scottish mycologist Roy Watling who classified it as Conocybe vaginata.

It is notable as being one of the few Conocybe species which has a volva and subsequently was placed in ''Conocybe sect. Singerella'' along with the other volvate species.

Description
Conocybe vaginata is a small volvate mushroom.

Cap: 1.4-2cm wide starting hemispherical to ovoid to campanulate before expanding with age. The hygrophanous surface is smooth, dry and very striated with a brownish or greyish beige colour. Stem: 7-7.6cm long and 1-2mm thick. The surface is white and smooth with a pubescent coating all over but no striations. It is very fragile and hollow with a swollen base that sits inside the persistent, membranous white volva. Gills: Free to adnexed, greyish beige to pale rust coloured becoming more rust brown with age. They are narrow and ventricose. Spores: (11) 11.5-12.5 (13) x 8.5-10 x 6.5-8 μm. Broadly ellipsoid and smooth with a thick wall and large germ pore. Yellow-brown in water turning red-brown in KOH. Basidia: (17.5) 20-24 x 12-15 μm. Clavate and hyaline in water or alkaline mounts.

Habitat and distribution
The specimens studied by Watling were found under bamboo in Castanopsis and Araucaria woodland and on rotten wood in Castanopsis forests in New Guinea.