Hygrocybe minitula

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Tricholomataceae > Hygrocybe . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Orange and red waxy caps are notoriously difficult to identify, so don't call up your bookie to put money on Hygrocybe minitula. This widely distributed but possibly uncommon species has a slimy cap and a slimy stem, and pale orange gills. The stem fades somewhat with age. Microscopic features help to distinguish it from look-alikes.

Edibility is unknown for Hygrocybe minitula, but it is too difficult to identify (and much too slimy) to consider as an edible, anyway.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic in woods; growing scattered or gregariously; spring through fall; widely distributed in North America.

Cap: .5-2 cm; convex becoming broadly convex or nearly flat; slimy; the margin often faintly lined when young; scarlet red to bright orange, fading somewhat in age.

Gills: Attached to the stem; close or almost distant; thick; pale orange.

Stem: 1.5-5 cm long; 1-4 mm thick; equal; slimy; smooth; colored like the cap but soon fading to yellow; often whitish near the base.

Flesh: Colored like the cap or paler; thin.

Odor and Taste: Not distinctive.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 7-10 x 4-5 µ; smooth; elliptical. Basidia 30-45 µ long. Cystidia none. Gill tissue parallel or nearly so, composed of cells 6-15 µ wide.

REFERENCES: (Peck, 1887) Murrill, 1916. (Hesler and Smith, 1963; Bird & Grund, 1979; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Largent, 1985.) Herb. Kuo 05200401, 05260401.

Hygrophorus minitulus is a synonym.

Hygrocybe subminitula is similar, but has spores measuring 5-7 x 2.5-3.5 µ.

Further Online Information:

Hygrophorus minitulus in Hesler & Smith (1963)

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, December). Hygrocybe minitula. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hygrocybe_minitula.html