Marasmius strictipes

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by Michael Kuo

For a Marasmius, this species is uncharacteristically large, with a cap that reaches 7 cm across and a stem that can be as long as 9 cm. Vaguely reminiscent of Marasmius oreades, which grows in fairy rings on lawns, Marasmius strictipes grows in hardwood forests in eastern North America. While it occasionally grows in clusters (as in the top illustration) it is more likely to grow alone or with a few others nearby.

The long, straight stem and the large, yellowish cap (which is usually not bell-shaped and which begins to curl upwards with maturity) are distinctive, but microscopic examination is probably needed to separate Marasmius strictipes from Marasmius cystidiosus; the latter has cystidia on the gill faces, while Marasmius strictipes has cystidia only on the gill edges.

Marasmius strictipes is labeled "not edible" by one field guide author; I can find no further information on its edibility.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on leaf litter in hardwood forests; growing alone or gregariously, occasionally in clusters; summer and fall; east of the Mississippi River.

Cap: To 7 cm across, convex, becoming flat, the margin becoming uplifted; typically smooth overall and faintly lined at the margin; moist; yellowish to orangish yellow.

Gills: Attached to the stem or free from it; close or crowded; whitish, pale yellow, or orangish yellow.

Stem: 3-9 cm long; up to 1 cm thick; equal; dry; straight; tough; sometimes with a faint bloom or dusting, or smooth; often with copious white basal mycelium; white or pale yellow.

Flesh: Thin; insubstantial.

Odor and Taste: Taste mild or slightly radishlike; odor not distinctive.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 6-10.5 x 3-4.5 µ; smooth; elliptical. Pleurocystidia absent. Cheilocystidia 14-35 x 4-9 µ.

REFERENCES: (Peck, 1887) Singer, 1943. (Gilliam, 1976; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; McNeil, 2006.) Herb Kuo 09190604.

Further Online Information:

Marasmius strictipes at Roger's Mushrooms

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, November). Marasmius strictipes. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/marasmius_strictipes.html