Mitrula elegans (Berkeley) Fries
Acta R. Soc. Sci., Upsal., Ser. 3, I: 119. 1851.

Common Name: none

Misapplied name: Mitrula paludosa

• Sporocarp

  Fertile head up to 1.0 cm long, and 0.5 cm broad, variable in shape: cylindrical to oblong-elliptical, subglobose to obovate; surface glistening when moist, faintly wrinkled to furrowed, golden-yellow, the margin fused to the stipe, the latter comprising the one-half to two-thirds of the fruiting body; stipe often with a basal bend, 0.5-1.3 cm long, 1.0-1.5 mm thick, more or less equal, hollow at maturity, glabrous except pubescent at the base; color whitish, translucent, sometimes tinged pale-pink.

• Spores

  Spores 11.5-16.0 x 2.5-3.5 µm, hyaline, narrowly oblong-elliptical (appearing cucumber-shaped), smooth, thin-walled; spores whitish in deposit.

• Habitat

  Solitary, scattered, to gregarious in marshes and bogs; fruiting on the remains of conifer needles, cones, aquatic plants, frequently in standing water; known primarily from montane areas; fruiting from late spring to summer; rare except in its favored habitat.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  The name "Match-stick Fungus," aptly describes this diminutive Ascomycete with a yellow-orange cap and slender, translucent stipe. Its fruiting preference, along the edges of marshes, and brightly-colored cap are distinctive, and differentiates it from other western Mitrulas. Mitrula paludosa of Europe is very similar, but probably does not occur in the United States According to Redhead (1977), it is distinguished by slightly wider spores. Ascomycetes often found fruiting with Mitrula elegans include Sclerotinia veratri, Cudoniella clavus, and various Mollisia species.

• References

  Redhead, S.A. (1977). The genus Mitrula in North America. Can. J. Bot. 55: 307-325.
  Wang, Z., Binder, M. & Hibbett, D.S. (2005). Life history and systematics of the aquatic Discomycete Mitrula (Helotiales, Ascomycota) based on cultural, morphological, and molecular studies. Am. J. Bot. 92: 1565-1574.

• References

  Redhead, S.A. (1977). The genus Mitrula in North America. Can. J. Bot. 55: 307-325.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Fred Stevens: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Mitrula elegans (CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 358 (D), pl. 684 (CP) [Mitrula paludosa]
  • Orr & Orr: p. 42 (D) [Mitrula paludosa]
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 2 (D & CP)
  
  

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