Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Mycena leaiana

Mycena leaiana (Berk.) Sacc.

Clustered (many) on a fallen and decaying log of Acer saccharum in forest dominated by Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia and Betula allegheniensis, Kennedy Lakes Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (28-06-19/03).

Basidiospores white in spore print, ellipsoidal, often slightly phaseoliform in profile, smooth, amyloid, 6.9-8.1 x 4.3-5.1 μm, Q = 1.50-1.77 (average[28]: 7.4 x 4.6 μm, Q = 1.62). Cheilocystidia forming a continuous sterile margin, borne in a gelatinous matrix, clavate, rarely slightly lobed, usually with internal pigmentation, 24-43 x 6.9-10.7 μm. Pleurocystidia scattered, abundant, clavate, mucronate, smooth, usually with internal pigmentation, 38-69 x 10.5-14.9 μm. Caulocystidia abundant near the apex of the stipe, clavate, smooth to irrgegularly nodulose or lobed, 34-74 x 6.4-10.5 μm. Basidia clavate, 4-spored, clamped at the base, borne above a gelatinous subhymenium. Pileipellis a gelatinous layer up to 400µm thick, composed or parallel to slightly interwoven hyphae, with hyphae at the surface irregularly nodulose or lobed and containing a diffuse pigmentation. Stipitipellis a gelatinous layer up to 100 µm thick, composed or parallel to slightly interwoven hyphae, with hyphae at the surface irregularly branched and lobed, containing a diffuse pigmentation.

A common and easily-recognized mushroom found throughout eastern North America. It grows in large clusters on hardwood logs, usually early in the summer. It has a gelatinous and mostly slimy pileus and stipe and has lamellae with bright orange margins. Microscopically it is characterized by its gelatinous pilei- and stipitipellis. The subhymenium and lamellar margin are gelatinous as well.

Photograph: D. Malloch (28-06-19/03).