Omphalina lilacinicolor

A rare species with pinkish-brown or lilac tinged fruiting bodies which are 5-20mm in diameter. The gills usually have a pale pinkish hue but the degree of pink or lilac colour in the caps is variable. It is a species of mossy ground on sand dunes, often with Syntrichia ruraliformis. It is closely related to Omphalina galericolor, which occurs in similar habitats but that species has a yellow-ochre coloured cap. However, it is sometimes regarded as a just a variety of that species. Omphalina pyxidata also occurs in similar habitats but it has a more reddish-brown cap and a dark stem. The sub-globular shaped spores of Omphalina lilacinicolor, which are 6-8 microns in diameter differ from the ovoid spores of Omphalina pyxidata which are usually distinctly longer than broad.

So far, Omphalina lilacinicolor has only been recorded on Baglan Dunes in West Glamorogan, but although it is generally a scarce species it is probably overlooked on sand dunes. It is also known from sand dunes in North Wales. Its occurrence in south Wales qualifies it as a significant dune assemblage species here.