Mycena semivestipes

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by Michael Kuo

This little mushroom is one of dozens of nondescript, brownish Mycena species--but it has just enough distinctive features to separate it from the monotonous masses. It grows in very dense clusters on the wood of hardwoods in eastern North America, and features a convex to planoconvex cap. The odor is usually bleach-like (crush a cap between your fingers), and the mature stem is pale above, but brown or nearly black below. The gills are attached to the stem, or feature a tiny "tooth" that runs down the stem's apex. Under the microscope, Mycena semivestipes has very small spores and characteristic cystidia (see below).

Most authors list Mycena semivestipes as a fall and winter species, but my collection was made during a cold spell in June.

Edibility is not known for Mycena semivestipes, but its bleach-like odor and tiny size are deterrents.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on the dead wood of hardwoods; growing in dense clusters; fall and early winter (but I have collected it in summer); widely distributed east of the Great Plains.

Cap: 1-3.5 cm across; convex, becoming broadly convex or nearly flat; sticky when fresh; smooth; dark brown or nearly black, fading to brown or grayish; sometimes with reddish tones in wet weather; the margin lined.

Gills: Attached to the stem or with a "tooth" that begins to run down the stem; close; whitish, or pinkish with age; sometimes developing reddish brown spots.

Stem: 2-6 cm long; 1-3 mm thick; fairly tough; equal; usually finely fuzzy near the base when young; pale near the apex; brown to blackish near the base.

Flesh: Insubstantial; pallid or brownish.

Taste: Not distinctive or slightly bitter; odor bleach-like, but sometimes absent in buttons.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 4-5 x 2.5-3 µ; amyloid; elliptical; smooth. Pleurocystidia and cheilocystidia similar; to about 30 x 10 µ; club-shaped, broadly fusoid-ventricose, or irregular; sometimes developing vague projections; often hard to distinguish from basidioles.

REFERENCES: (Peck, 1895) Smith, 1947. (Smith, 1947; Bessette, Miller, Bessette & Miller, 1995.) Herb. Kuo 06140306.

Further Online Information:

Mycena semivestipes in Smith, 1947

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2006, February). Mycena semivestipes. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mycena_semivestipes.html