A common litter-decomposing mushroom of pine woods with a greasy, buttery-feeling brown cap and a club-shaped stem. It closely resembles Gymnopus dryophilus and is most reliably separated by its dextrinoid spores under the microscope. DNA work has found at least two distinct populations under this name, so more than one species may be involved.
Reported edible but insubstantial (Wikipedia; 'probably edible' per Mykoweb), with little culinary record. Not recommended for beginners: it is easily confused with Gymnopus dryophilus, whose edibility is disputed, and with other small brown litter mushrooms. Always take a spore print; a rusty-brown print rules it out and may indicate a Galerina, some of which contain deadly amatoxins.
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Habitat
Saprobic in conifer litter, especially under pines, occasionally under hardwoods; scattered or in small groups. Late summer and fall, or late fall to winter in mild climates.
Distribution
Widespread and fairly common in North America; also known from Europe, where the name was described. North American material may include more than one species.
Characteristics
Cap: 2-6 cm (to 9 cm), convex becoming broadly convex to flat, bald, greasy or lubricous when moist; reddish brown to brown or dingy mustard brown, fading to cinnamon or buff; hygrophanous. Gills: narrowly attached to notched or nearly free, close, whitish to cream, edges becoming finely jagged. Stem: 3-8 cm long, about 5-10 mm thick (Mykoweb), usually somewhat club-shaped, bald, whitish to buff above and cap-colored below, becoming hollow; white basal mycelium. Flesh: whitish, unchanging. Odor and taste: not distinctive. Spore print: whitish to faintly pinkish or cream-pink in a thick print. Spores: about 6-10 x 3-6 µm (MushroomExpert gives 8-10 x 4.5-6, Mykoweb 6-7.5 x 3-4), smooth, ellipsoid, some dextrinoid.
