Cryptomarasmius corbariensis

🏷️ Description
🔎 Identification
🌍 Habitat and Distribution
🚫 Edibility
📜 Synonyms

🏷️ Description

Cryptomarasmius corbariensis is a diminutive yet fascinating mushroom primarily found in leaf litter, particularly under olive trees (Olea europaea). This species, although scarcely represented in mycological literature, has been identified in various regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, and even the USA.

Noteworthy Features:

Small size and long, curved stem
Specific association with olive trees
Likely under-recorded due to its ephemeral and minute fruiting bodies

C. corbariensis, named after the town of Corbara in Italy, is a tiny marvel of the fungal world, thriving in symbiosis with one of humanity’s most valued crops.

🔎 Identification

Cap: The cap measures 3-7 mm, with a parachute-like dome, displaying a color range from golden yellow to olive-brown, often darker at the center. The surface is finely hairy and radially wrinkled, with a ribbed, slightly paler margin.
Stem: Thin, long, and hard, the stem is black-brown, often exhibiting several spiral curves.
Gills: Gills are sparse, whitish initially, transitioning to yellow-brown or reddish-brown, adnate in attachment.
Spores: Elliptical to spherical with spiky surfaces, measuring 6.5-9 µm, producing a white spore print.
Flesh: The flesh is yellowish, darkening to brownish or blackish-brown in the stem. It has a mild taste and an indistinct odor.

🌍 Habitat and Distribution

This saprophytic mushroom thrives on leaf litter and woody debris of deciduous trees, especially olive trees, during the summer and autumn months. It has been found growing on olive leaves in regions like Istria, but its distribution spans a wide geographical area, from the Mediterranean islands to Turkey and beyond.

Originally described from France, C. corbariensis has since been recorded in Belgium, Malta, Minorca, Ibiza, Algeria, Morocco, and even California. The species likely has a broader range than currently documented, often spreading alongside olive cultivation.