Tapinella panuoides

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Hygrophoropsidaceae > Tapinella . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

This funky mushroom grows on the dead wood of conifers (logs, sticks, stumps, etc.) across North America--and on the wood of picnic tables, fenceposts, and so on. It lacks a stem, or has only a stubby, lateral structure attaching the cap to the wood. Its brownish or orangish brown cap is finely fuzzy at first, but becomes fairly smooth with age. The most distinctive feature of Tapinella panuoides, however, is the orangish gills, which become crimped or corrugated near the base.

Phyllotopsis nidulans is often cited as a look-alike for Tapinella panuoides, but it features a brighter orange cap that is densely and prominently hairy. Tapinella corrugata (illustrated lower right) has brighter orange gills that are poorly formed for their entire length.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic; growing alone or gregariously on woodland conifer wood and on lumber; summer and fall (also over winter in warmer climates); widely distributed in North America.

Cap: 2-12 cm; fan- or shell-shaped; dry; finely velvety when young, becoming smooth with age; tan, yellow-brown, or orangish brown; the margin inrolled at first, often with a somewhat scalloped appearance.

Gills: Close; dull orangish; frequently forked, cross-veined, crimped, or corrugated, especially near the base.

Stem: Absent, or present only as a small lateral extension.

Flesh: Whitish or dirty yellowish.

Odor and Taste: Not distinctive.

Spore Print: Yellowish to yellowish brown or brownish.

Microscopic Features: Spores 4-6 x 3-4 µ; smooth; elliptical; frequently dextrinoid.

Paxillus panuoides is a synonym.

REFERENCES: (Batsch) Gilbert, 1931. (Fries, 1821; Saccardo, 1887; Kauffman, 1918; Arora, 1986; Lincoff, 1992; Barron, 1999; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006.)

Further Online Information:

Paxillus panuoides at MykoWeb
Paxillus panuoides at Roger's Mushrooms
Tapinella panuoides at Fungi of Poland

Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2007, March). Tapinella panuoides. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/tapinella_panuoides.html