A clustered, brown, bell-shaped Mycena on well-decayed hardwood logs and stumps, with whitish gills that often turn pink with age and are joined by prominent cross-veins. It is one of the larger and more common Mycena species across the north temperate zone. The very similar Mycena inclinata has a toothed young cap margin, yellowish upper stem and stronger mealy odor.
Sources disagree: some call it edible but of little interest, others list it as inedible because of a mildly rancid smell, and Arora notes it may resemble questionable species. Because its pinkish gills can suggest Pluteus or Entoloma, and small brown mushrooms include deadly Galerina, it is not recommended.
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Habitat
Saprobic on well-decayed hardwood logs and stumps (also softwood debris), sometimes from buried wood so that it appears terrestrial; usually in loose or dense clusters. Spring and fall, or over winter in warm climates.
Distribution
Common and widespread across the north temperate zone. In North America it occurs east of the Rocky Mountains, along the Pacific Coast and in Mexico; also reported from Central and South America and from Nigeria. Australian reports are probably misidentifications.
Characteristics
Cap: 1.5-5 cm, conic and dark brown when young, becoming broadly bell-shaped or convex, usually keeping a central bump; faintly grooved radially, bald; brown to yellow-brown or grayish brown, darker at the center. Gills: narrowly attached, nearly distant, with prominent cross-veins in age; whitish, often pinkish later. Stem: 3-10 cm long, sometimes rooting several centimeters from buried wood, 2-4 mm thick, equal, hollow, bald, whitish near the top and brownish below. Odor and taste: slightly mealy or not distinctive. Spore print: white. Spores: 7-10 x 4-5.5 um (to 12 x 6.5 um in 2-spored forms), ellipsoid, smooth, amyloid (MushroomExpert.com; Wikipedia).
