Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Mycena alcaliniformis

Mycena alcaliniformis (Murrill) Murrill

Gregarious (many) in needle litter, associated with Pinus banksiana and Picea rubens, NNW of Wayerton, Northumberland Co., New Brunswick (15-09-19/02).

Basidiospores white in spore print, narrowly ellipsoidal to obovoid or dacryoid, smooth, amyloid, 6.7-9.4 X 3.6-4.7 μm, Q = 1.70-2.18 (average[39]: 8.0 X 4.1 μm, Q = 1.94). Cheilocystidia scattered to clustered, irregularly dendroid. Pileipellis a thin ixocutis of finely roughened hyphae. Stipitipellis similar to the pileipellis.

Recongnized by it's small size (pileus 5-12 mm in diameter), irregularly branched, tree-like cheilocystidia and the finely roughened covering of the pileus and stipe. Smith (North American Species of Mycena, 1947) states that fresh basidiomata of M. alcaliniformis have a faintly fragrant odour, but Collection 15-09-19/02 had a slight alcaline odour instead. Mycena piceicola is similar in appearance and habitat, but has larger basidiomata and smaller basidiospores.

Photograph: D. Malloch (15-09-19/02).