Tiny White Mushroom for ID Please

[Lancashire Lad]

Found this today, (along with two smaller examples), growing on a broken & rotting piece of branch.
(Branch about 25mm diameter x 300mm long, Probably Oak, but possibly Beech).

Cap diameter no more than 4mm, overall height about 10mm.

Unfortunately these were the best pics I could get, as I didn't have my macro with me.



Initially thought it might have been Oak Pin Cudoniella acicularis, but those I've seen so far have had much more symmetrical / convex caps.

Any pointer as to possible identification appreciated.

Regards
Mike.

[diggleken]

Hi Mike,
I'll try!
Nearest I can do on just pictures is marasmius , marasmiellus or small mycena.
Possibly Marasmiellus candidus? Stem doesnt fit the description of smooth though, but cap (partic the wrinkled description), trooping and gills structure look about right.
Interesting find!
Cheers
Ken

[flaxton]

Mike

With decurrent stem arcuate gills (quick check of the glossary if you can find it)and a distinctly pruinose stem I would go for Mycena speirea.


Mal

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by diggleken

....Possibly Marasmiellus candidus?....

Hi Ken,

Might be a possibility this. The one at the extreme left hand side of the photo in Jordan looks pretty similar, although I think this might be one that would have needed microscopy.

Regards
Mike.

[diggleken]

Hi Mike - that pruinose stem is the issue with that!
The mycena Mal mentions looks pretty good though - there are also potentially some hemimycena that might be in the running....................
Cheers
Ken

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by flaxton

Mike

With decurrent stem arcuate gills (quick check of the glossary if you can find it)and a distinctly pruinose stem I would go for Mycena speirea.


Mal

Thanks Mal.

I've just googled for images of Mycena speirea and there's a photo on "users.skynet.be" that practically identical.

I'm as satisfied as possible that Mycena speirea is the one.

(I found the glossary, but it's a bit of a pain at the minute, now that the direct link has been deleted - Perhaps the thread could be made a sticky until Stuart implements the final version?).


Regards
Mike.

[mollisia]

Hi,

no, this is not Mycena speirea in my eye. I know this species quite well and it never has such distant gills, nor is the stipe that pruinose.
This I would think is a Hemimycena ss. lato, very probably Delicatella integrella.

best regards,
Andreas

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hi,

no, this is not Mycena speirea in my eye. I know this species quite well and it never has such distant gills, nor is the stipe that pruinose.
This I would think is a Hemimycena ss. lato, very probably Delicatella integrella.

best regards,
Andreas

Hi Andreas, I bow to your vastly superior knowledge, as I was just comparing an image I found by googling, to my specimen. (The gills on that photo were also distantly spaced on the more immature specimens depicted).

I've found some images for Delicatula integrella, and it does indeed look similar to my specimen.

I've also just had a look on the British Mycological Society's NBN Gateway, and also on The Association Of British Fungus Group's CATE Database, but neither of these is showing any record of Delicatula integrella in Lancashire.

Regards
Mike.

[flaxton]

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hi,

no, this is not Mycena speirea in my eye. I know this species quite well and it never has such distant gills, nor is the stipe that pruinose.
This I would think is a Hemimycena ss. lato, very probably Delicatella integrella.

best regards,
Andreas

Andreas
Your knowledge far outweighs mine but D. integrella is described as having a smooth to slightly fibrillose stipe with a small bulbous base neither of which fit this specimen. It also has ridge-like intervenose lamellae again which is not a good description of the photos from Mike. I have to admit though the M. spirea I have found usually have more gills than this one.
Most of the Hemimycena also have white mycelial threads at the base of the stipe again something missing from this find unfortunately so does M spirea
Microscope needed.

Mal

[mollisia]

Hallo Mike,

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Hi Andreas, I bow to your vastly superior knowledge

No need to do so and please keep on being always critical to what others say - me included of course. It is no problem to argue against my argumentations, it's the discussion that brings us all further on.

as I was just comparing an image I found by googling, to my specimen. (The gills on that photo were also distantly spaced on the more immature specimens depicted).

An image of what? Of Mycena speirea? if this should have such distant gills, then the stipe must have been smooth and mearly polished. In Delicatula it is covered with velar remnants, which gives it a pruinose or even floccose appearance. This is a very important feature and ne of the reasons to separate Delicatula from Hemomycena. And it's that floccose stipe covering that I mean to see on the foto.

I've also just had a look on the British Mycological Society's NBN Gateway, and also on The Association Of British Fungus Group's CATE Database, but neither of these is showing any record of Delicatula integrella in Lancashire.

Not so strange. The species is not rare, but often overlooked or the people don't dare to determine those white small agarics. Hemimycena is a mess (or was, because there is a good monographie now) and the tiny mushrooms are quite difficult to work with. You need preparations from the gill, the cuticule and the stipe covering and search for cystidia there. You have to be very careful not to confuse the gill with the stipe covering or with the cuticule, what is not so easy with a fruitbody without trama
Also I don't know how exactly Lancashire should be investigated. Are the many people giving data?

Regards
Andreas