Omphalina epichysium

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by Michael Kuo

Omphalina epichysium can be found on dead logs across North America. It has a black to dark grayish brown cap that fades markedly as it dries out, and can reach widths of 4-5 cm (which is "large" for an Omphalina). It lacks a distinctive odor, and has broadly elliptical spores measuring 7-9 x 4-5 µ. Like other omphalinoid mushrooms, it has a belly-button cap and gills that run down the stem.

Although it is found on dead wood, it is likely that Omphalina epichysium is associated with moss; careful inspection usually results in the discovery of moss (sometimes craftily creeping through cracks or feebly following fissures) in the immediate vicinity.

Edibility is not known for Omphalina epichysium. Do not experiment.

Description:

Ecology: Possibly saprobic but apparently involved in some sort of mutualism with moss; growing alone, gregariously, or in clusters on the dead wood of hardwoods and conifers; spring through fall; widely distributed in North America.

Cap: 1.5-5 cm across; planoconvex at first, becoming centrally depressed or vase-shaped; fairly smooth; the margin inrolled at first and later lined, often nearly to the center; blackish to dark grayish brown, fading markedly as it dries out and eventually pale grayish brown.

Gills: Running down the stem; close or nearly distant; pale gray.

Stem: Up to 3 cm long and 3 mm thick; more or less equal; dry; smooth or minutely hairy; colored like the cap but not fading as quickly.

Flesh: Insubstantial; watery grayish.

Taste: Not distinctive; odor not distinctive.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 7-9 x 4-5 µ; smooth; elliptical; inamyloid. Cystidia absent. Clamp connections present.

Clitocybe epichysium and Arrhenia epichysium are synonyms.

REFERENCES: (Persoon, 1794) Quélet, 1886. (Kauffman, 1918; Moser, 1983; Bigelow, 1985.) Herb. Kuo 08140304, 10010417, 10290405.

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Kuo, M. (2005, March). Omphalina epichysium. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/omphalina_epichysium.html