A small, very slimy waxcap with a pinkish-orange to brownish-orange cap, a slimy pale orange stem and widely spaced, slightly decurrent gills that are pale at first and often turn salmon pink with age. The gill edges carry a thin gelatinous band. It often has an odd fishy or soapy odor. In North America it usually grows in moist or boggy woods.
Edibility disputed; not recommended. Wikipedia calls it edible but of little interest, while First Nature notes that some authorities consider it inedible. It is too small and slimy to be worth collecting.
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Habitat
Scattered to gregarious on the ground in woods, especially boggy or wet areas, in North America; in Europe in unfertilized acid grassland, heath and moorland, occasionally on stable dunes. Summer and fall, or over winter in warm climates. Ecological role uncertain.
Distribution
Widely distributed in North America and also known from Central America; common in Europe, where it was described (MushroomExpert; First Nature).
Characteristics
Cap: 1-3.5 cm, convex becoming broadly convex to flat, often slightly depressed; bald and slimy; brownish orange at the center, pinkish orange elsewhere; margin becoming translucent-striate. Gills: decurrent or slightly so, distant; creamy to pale gray at first, often turning salmon pink with age, with a thin gelatinous edge band. Stem: 3-8.5 cm long, 2-3 mm thick, equal, slimy, pale orange, hollow. Flesh: insubstantial, whitish. Odor: often fishy or soapy, sometimes none. Spore print: white. Spores: 6-9 x 3.5-4.5 µm, ellipsoid, smooth, inamyloid (MushroomExpert).
