Mycena capillaripes Peck
Ann. Rep. NY State Mus., 41: 63. 1888.

Common Name: none

Misapplied name: Mycena alcalina

• Pileus

  Cap 1-2 cm broad, convex, becoming bell-shaped, slightly knobbed or umbonate at maturity; margin entire to slightly scalloped; surface smooth, translucent-striate when moist, grey-brown, sometimes tinged pale vinaceous, fading to pale grey, then slightly furrowed; flesh thin, grey, unchanging; odor of bleach; taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills adnate, moderately broad, close, in age subdistant, ashy-grey, edges pinkish.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-6 cm long, 1-2 mm thick, thin, fragile, hollow; equal or slightly enlarged at the base; apex faintly pruinose, otherwise smooth or polished, colored like the cap but the apex usually paler; veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 8-11 x 4-6.5 µm, smooth, elliptical, amyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Scattered or in troops under conifers; especially common in needle duff of Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) and Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata); fruiting in moist weather throughout the mushroom season.

• Edibility

  Unknown. The bleach odor is a deterrent and the small size is even more of a deterrent!

• Comments

  Mycena capillaripes is one of several grey-brown, bleach-odored Mycenas that occur in our area. Its most distinguishing feature is pink-edged (marginate) gills, best seen with a hand lens. Mycena leptocephala, also common on conifer needles, is similar but lacks marginate gills. Another bleach-odored species, Mycena alcalina, fruits primarily on rotting conifer wood. It also lacks marginate gills.

• References

  Perry, Brian A. (2002). A Taxonomic Investigation of Mycena in California. Masters Thesis, San Francisco State University: San Francisco, CA. 157 p.
  Mass Geesteranus, R. A. (1992). Mycenas of the Northern Hemisphere. II. Conspectus of the Mycenas of the Northern Hemisphere. Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Vetenschappen: Amsterdam, Netherlands. 493 p.
  Robich, Giovanni (2003). Mycena D'Europa. Associazione Micologica Bresadola: Trento, Italy. 728 p.
  Smith, Alexander H. (1947). North American Species of Mycena. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MI. 521 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Mycena capillaripes (CP) -- closeup of cap
  • Michael Wood: Mycena capillaripes (CP) -- usually grows in large troops
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Mycena capillaripes (CP)
  • Mycena Page: Mycena capillaripes (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 229 (D & P)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 3): sp. 322 (D, I, & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 173 (D & CP)
  
  

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