A bright orange, slimy-capped Mycena that grows in tight clusters on hardwood logs. It is recognized by its orange gill edges, which contrast with paler creamy faces, and by its sticky orange stem, which can exude orange juice when squeezed. The cap fades to dull orange and finally nearly white with age.
Widely distributed in North America east of the Rocky Mountains, from the Great Plains eastward.
Characteristics
Cap: 1-4 cm, oval or bell-shaped when young, becoming broadly bell-shaped or convex; sticky to slimy when wet, bald; bright orange fading to dull orange and nearly whitish. Gills: attached, close or crowded, with bright orange edges and orangish to creamy faces. Stem: 3-7 cm long, 2-4 mm thick, equal, hollow, sticky when wet, orange to orangish yellow, paler at the apex, the base dusted orange to whitish; may exude orange juice when squeezed. Spore print: white. Spores: 7-10 x 5-6 um, elliptical, smooth, amyloid (MushroomExpert.com; Wikipedia).
