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Mycena vulgaris is a small saprophytic mushroom, considered inedible. They belong to the Mycenovae family, the genus Mycena, which unites about 200 species, 60 of which are found in Russia.
What do common mycenae look like?
A young mushroom has a convex cap, while a mature one has a wide conical or prostrate cap. The diameter does not exceed 1-2 cm. The middle is most often depressed, sometimes with a tubercle in the center, the edge is furrowed, on the surface of the strip. The cap is transparent, gray-brown, light gray-brown, gray-fawn, gray-brown, with a brown eye, darker in the center, lighter along the edge.
The leg is smooth, hollow, cylindrical, rigid. The surface is slimy, sticky, shiny, smooth, with whitish, rough, long hairs at the base. The height of the leg is from 2 to 6 cm, thickness from 1 to 1.5 mm. The color is grayish, grayish-brown, dark brown below.
The plates are quite sparse, arched, with a mucous edge, flexible, descending onto the stalk. Color white, pale gray, light gray-brown.
Spores are elliptical, amyloid. Size – 6-9 x 3.5-5 microns. Basidia are tetrasporous. The powder is white.
The pulp is whitish, flexible and thin. It has practically no taste, the smell is rancid, floury or rare, not pronounced.
In Russia you can find other mycenae that are similar in appearance to the common one, but have their own characteristic features.
Similar specimens
Mycena dewy. Differs in smaller sizes. The diameter of the cap is 0.5 to 1 cm. In a young mushroom it is bell-shaped or hemispherical, with growth it becomes convex, wrinkled-pitted with uneven edges, then prostrate, ribbed or wrinkled, with a carved edge. When it dries, a pityriasis-like coating forms on the surface. The color is whitish or cream, darker in the middle - grayish, beige, pale ocher. The plates are white, thin, sparse, descending, with intermediate ones. The basidia are two-spore-bearing, the spores are larger – 8-12 x 4-5 µm. The pulp is white, thin. The leg is covered with a mucous sheath, smooth, with a characteristic distinguishing feature - drops of liquid. Height - from 3 to 3.5 cm, thickness about 2 mm. The color is whitish above, beige or fawn below. Grows in small groups or clumps in coniferous and mixed forests on rotten wood, fallen leaves and needles. Not common, bears fruit from June to autumn. There is no information about edibility.
Mycena is slimy (sticky, slippery or lemon yellow). The main differences are adherent plates, a yellowish and thinner leg. The spores are smooth, colorless, ellipsoid, larger than those of a relative, their size is on average 10x5 microns. The cap is grayish-smoky, diameter is from 1 to 1.8 cm. The shape of young specimens is hemispherical or convex, the edge is whitish-yellow or gray, with an adhesive layer. The plates are thin, whitish, and rather sparsely spaced.
The leg is lemon-yellow, covered with a layer of mucus, slightly pubescent at the bottom. Its height is 5-8 cm, diameter is 0.6-2 mm. It got its name because of the unpleasant slippery surface of the fruiting body.
The mushroom appears at the end of summer and bears fruit throughout the fall. Settles in mixed, deciduous and coniferous forests, grows on moss-covered surfaces, fallen pine needles and leaves, and last year's grass. It is considered inedible, but not poisonous. Not edible due to its too small size.
Where do Mycenae vulgaris grow?
Mycena vulgaris lives in coniferous and mixed forests. It is a saprophyte, grows in groups on a litter of fallen pine needles, and does not grow together with fruiting bodies.
Distributed throughout Europe, including Russia, found in North America and Asian countries.
Fruits from late summer to mid-autumn.
Is it possible to eat Mycena vulgaris?
Belongs to the inedible species. It is not poisonous. It has no nutritional value due to its small size and difficulties with heat treatment. It is not customary to collect it; many mushroom pickers consider it a toadstool.
Conclusion
Mycena vulgaris is a rare inedible mushroom. In some European countries, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Latvia, France, Norway, it is listed as endangered. It is not included in the Red Book of Russia.
