Marasmius plicatulus Peck
Bull. Torrey. Bot. Club 24: 142. 1897.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Cap 1-4.0 cm broad, convex to campanulate, nearly plane in age; surface dry, velvety, mahogany-brown, rusty-brown or yellowish-brown, darkest at disc, striate to furrowed in age; flesh thin, pallid.

• Lamellae

  Gills nearly free, distant, broad, pallid to pinkish-buff.

• Stipe

  Stipe 5-11 cm long, 1.5-3.5 mm thick, smooth, equal, brittle, mahogany-brown at base, lighter above; well developed white mycelial mat at base.

• Spores

  Spores 11-14.5 x 5-6.5 microns, elliptical, smooth, non-amyloid. Spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered, gregarious, or in troops under oaks and other trees; fruiting from late fall through mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown, but too small and tough to be considered for the table.

• Comments

  This handsome Marasmius is recognized by its velvety mahogany cap, slender stature, widely spaced pallid to pinkish gills, and shiny, thin, wiry stipe. It's litter habitat is often shared with Mycenas, also small and white spored, but members of this genus have closer spaced gills, lack wiry stipes and have different cap cuticles.

• References

  Desjardin, Dennis E. (1987). The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 7. Tricholomataceae I. Marasmioid Fungi. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 100 p.
  Desjardin, Dennis E. (1987). New and Noteworthy Marasmioid Fungi from California. Mycologia 79: 123-134.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Nathan Wilson: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Marasmius plicatulus (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 209 (D), p. 210 (P), plate 45 (CP)
  • Desjardin: p. 86 (D)
  • Lincoff: p. 733 (D), plate 40 (CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)