Mycena leaiana

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Tricholomataceae > Mycena . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

This beautiful little Mycena, found primarily east of the Rocky Mountains, is one of only a few bright orange members of the genus. Its white spore print helps separate it from other small, orange, wood-loving mushrooms, as does the fact that it grows in tight clusters on the decaying logs of hardwoods. The gills of Mycena leaiana are "marginate," which is the term in Mycologese for gills whose edges are colored differently than their faces. The edges of the gills are orange, like the cap and stem, but close inspection of the gill faces reveals them to be creamy or very pale orange.

Edibility is not known for Mycena leaiana, but it is much too small to consider collecting for the table, anyway.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on the wood of hardwoods; growing in tight clusters (although I have on rare occasions found it growing alone, binding leaf litter under hardwoods); east of the Rocky Mountains; summer and fall.

Cap: 1-4 cm; oval or bell-shaped when young, becoming broadly bell-shaped or convex; sticky to slimy when wet; smooth; bright orange, fading to dull orange and, finally, almost whitish; the margin sometimes becoming lined.

Gills: Attached to the stem; close or crowded; the edges bright orange, the faces somewhat lighter.

Stem: 3-7 cm long; 2-4 mm thick; equal; hollow; smooth; fairly tough and cartilagenous; the base covered with orange to whitish powder or dust; sticky when wet; orange or yellow, paler near the apex; sometimes exuding an orange juice when squeezed.

Flesh: Insubstantial; pallid or orangish.

Taste: Mild or slightly mealy; odor mild or slightly mealy.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 7-10 x 5-6 µ; elliptical.

REFERENCES: (Berkeley, 1845) Saccardo, 1891. (Kauffman, 1918; Smith, 1947; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Roody, 2003.) Herb. Kuo 08270203, 06150305.

Further Online Information:

Mycena leaiana in Smith, 1947

Marginate Gills

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Kuo, M. (2004, November). Mycena leaiana. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mycena_leaiana.html