Scientific name: Mycena leaiana (Berk.) Sacc.
Derivation of name: Mycena is derived from the ancient
Greek word for mushroom. Lea honors the Ohio
mycologist Thomas
Gibson Lea who lived from 1785 to 1844.
Synonym: Agaricus leaianus Berk.
Common name(s): Orange mycena.
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Order: Agaricales
Family: Mycenaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; in cespitose
clusters on deciduous wood, particularly beech; June through
September.
Dimensions: Caps 1-5 cm wide; stipes 3-7 cm long and 1.5-3
mm thick.
Cap: Sticky; shiny; orange to orange-red at first but may fade to
whitish.
Gills: Attached; salmon-colored with brilliant reddish-orange
edges.
Spore print:White.
Stipe: Sticky; orange to yellow; base covered by long, coarse
hairs.
Veil: Absent.
Comments: Most field guides indicate this species is very
common and regular in its appearance each year. When handled,
the orange pigment will stain the skin.
More information at MushroomExpert.com:
More information at TomVolkFungi.net
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Figure 1. A typical cluster of orange mycena on wood.
Photo © Tom Schulein.
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Figure 2. Note the paler color of this cluster compared to
the specimens in Figure 1. Mushrooms can be so variable!
Photo © William Roody.
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Figure 3. The photographer captured all parts of the
mushroom in this image to reveal an
important
identification character, the red gill edges. See
Figure 4.
Photo © Rhoda Roper.
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Figure 4. The conspicuous reddish gill edges
are an
important identifying field characteristic. Photo
© Gary
Emberger.
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