Leratiomyces ceres

A striking bright red or orange-red species whose pileus can reach approximately 6 cm across. It typically appears during rainy periods, predominantly in autumn or early winter, in ruderal habitats such as parks, gardens, on woodchip mulch, or enriched soils.

Formerly known as Stropharia aurantiaca or Hypholoma aurantiacum, subsequently recombined into the genus Leratiomyces.

We have encountered it on several occasions, always in autumn or winter in gardens and urban green areas. The microscopy is based on a collection from Erandio (Bizkaia) in a small park flanked by Eucalyptus nitens. Additional photographs from a garden in the same locality and from a riparian forest in Bedia (Bizkaia) are included.