Mycena leaiana

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.
Edibility: Unknown.
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  


Figure 1. A typical cluster of orange mycena on wood.
Photo © Tom Schulein.    

Figure 2. Note the paler color of this cluster compared to
the specimens in Figure 1. Mushrooms can be so variable!
Photo © William Roody.

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.


Figure 4. The conspicuous reddish gill edges are an
important identifying field characteristic. Photo © Gary
Emberger.