Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Mycena minutissima

Mycena minutissima (Murrill) Murrill

Gregarious (many) in needle litter, associated with Pinus banksiana and Picea rubens, NNW of Wayerton, Northumberland Co., New Brunswick (15-09-19/01).

Basidiospores white in spore print, ellipsoiodal, smooth, amyloid, 4.9-6.5 X 2.8-3.8 μm, Q = 1.40-1.90 (average[24]: 5.7 X 3.5 μm, Q = 1.62). Cheilocystidia clavate, covered with wart-like to elongated protuberances. Pileipellis a thin cutis, with surface hyphae producing a thick turf of erect coralloid outgrowths up to 4 µm high. Stipitipellis similar to the pileipellis.

Recongnized by it's minute size (pileus 4-8 mm in diameter), clavate cheilocystidia covered with finger-like protuberances, turf-like covering of the pileus and stipe, and by it's small basidiospores. The dense pileipellis probably accounts for its dull non-reflective surface.

Photograph: D. Malloch (15-09-19/01).