Marasmiellus nigripes

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Marasmiaceae > Marasmiellus . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

This tiny mushroom is one of my favorites. I am fascinated by its "institious" stem base, which lacks basal mycelium and is directly inserted into the substrate (usually an oak leaf or a twig)--arising, seemingly, from nothing. The stark contrast between the black stem and white cap of Marasmiellus nigripes is also striking. Other distinguishing features include the tiny white hairs on the stem, the rather flabby texture of the cap and gills, and the distinctive spores (see below).

Marasmius nigripes is too tiny to consider for the table.

Description:

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

Cap: To 2 cm across; convex, becoming flat; smooth or finely dusted; wrinkled; stark white.

Gills: Attached to the stem or beginning to run down it; distant or nearly so; with cross-veins; white; sometimes bruising reddish.

Stem: 2-5 cm long; less than 2 mm thick; equal; dry; straight; inserted directly into the substrate; tough; whitish when young but soon black; covered with tiny white hairs.

Flesh: Thin; rubbery.

Odor and Taste: Taste mild; odor not distinctive.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 8-9 µ; smooth; triangular or jack-shaped.

Tetrapyrgos nigripes and Heliomyces nigripes are synonyms.

REFERENCES: (Schweinitz, 1822) Singer, 1946. (Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Barron, 1999; McNeil, 2006.) Herb. Kuo 06280702.

Further Online Information:

Marasmiellus nigripes at Roger's Mushrooms

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, March). Marasmiellus nigripes. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/marasmiellus_nigripes.html