Hemimycena lactea

What You Should Know

Hemimycena lactea is a white or creamy fungus that is less than 5 cm across, conical or bell-shaped, the margins becoming wavy and irregular when expanded and lined when moist.

This inedible mushroom was first described by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, and given its simplified Asian name by Rolf Singer in 1938. Hemimycena lactea belongs to the genus Hemimycena, and the family of the Mycenaceae.

Edible but not worthwhile – avoid.

Other names: Milky Bonnet.

Hemimycena lactea Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   0.5–2cm across, conical to bell-shaped, margin becoming wavy and irregular when expanded and lined when moist, chalk-white, or with a pale cream center.

2. Stem

   10–50 x 2–3mm, white with white fibers at the base.

3. Flesh

   Thin, white. Smell none.

4. Gills

   Adnate, white.

5. Cheilocystidia

   Small, thin-walled with the apex often subcapitate.

6. Spores

   Elongate-ellipsoid, nonamyloid, 9–11 x 3–4um.

7. Spore Print

   White.

8. Habitat

   In large groups amongst conifer needles and other debris. Season summer to autumn. Rare. Found In Europe.

Hemimycena lactea Look-Alikes

1. Hemimycena pseudolactea

   Similar ecology, abundant pleurocystidia, spores significantly smaller (6-8 x 2.5-3.5 μm).

2. Hemimycena cucullata

   Rather under deciduous trees, generally taller and tight blades.

Hemimycena lactea Synonyms

1. Hemimycena lactella (P.D. Orton) Watling 1998

2. Hemimycena lactea f. lactella (P.D. Orton) Courtec. 1986

3. Helotium delicatellum (Peck) Redhead 1982

4. Trogia lactea (Pers.) Corner 1966

5. Hemimycena delicatella (Peck) Singer 1962

6. Mycena lactella P.D. Orton 1960

7. Marasmiellus lacteus (Pers.) S. Ito 1959

8. Mycena delicatella (Peck) A.H. Sm. 1947

9. Gymnopus delicatellus (Peck) Murrill 1916

10. Agaricus delicatellus Peck 1878

11. Mycena lactea (Pers.) P. Kumm. 1871

12. Agaricus lacteus Pers. 1801

13. Mycena pithya

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)

Photo 2 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)

Photo 3 - Author: Jerzy Opioła (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)