Mycena austrororida

Mycena austrororida Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Basidiomycetes Order: Agaricales Family: Mycenaceae Genus: Mycena Species: M. austrororida Binomial name Mycena austrororida Singer Mycena austrororida Mycological characteristics gills on hymenium cap is convex stipe is bare spore print is white ecology is saprotrophic edibility: inedible

Mycena austrororida, also commonly known as the Austro Dripping Bonnet is a fungal species in the genus Mycena. From the locations that it has been described, it is said that this species may have links to the ancient continent, Gondwana.^[1] Unlike when it generally comes to identifying Mycenas, this species has several distinguishing characteristics that make it easy to identify.

Description

The carpophores of Mycena austrororida are easily identifiable by several features. Their thick, glutinous stems, almost pure white colour and convex caps. Their caps range in diameter from 1-2 cm, being pale cream or white in colour.

Their gills are white, adnate or arcuate, with white spores. The spores are smooth and ellipsoid, with dimensions of about 9-15x6-9 µm.

The stems of are typically 4-6 cm long and 0.1-0.2 cm thick. They are smooth and white, with an abundance of gluten making a thick sheath over it.^[2] There are often fine white hairs at the base of the stem.

Habitat and Distribution

Mycena austrororida forms small colonies on rotting and wet logs in eucalypt forests and sometimes even on rotting pine cones.^[3] This species was first described in Chile, and also New Zealand. In Australia it can be found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia.

References

1. ^ A field guide to the fungi of Australia. By Tony Young, A. M. Young, Kay Smith. Illustrated by Kay Smith. Published by UNSW Press, 2005. ISBN 0-86840-742-9, 978-0-86840-742-5. page 157
2. ^ A field guide to the fungi of Australia. By Tony Young, A. M. Young, Kay Smith. Illustrated by Kay Smith. Published by UNSW Press, 2005. ISBN 0-86840-742-9, 978-0-86840-742-5. page 157
3. ^ http://www.elfram.com/fungi/fungipics_m.html