Galerina hypnorum

Description

Galerina hypnorum is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae. A variable and confused species definition by the leading authors having different interpretations. These species are extremely difficult to differentiate macroscopically they can be grouped with some confidence microscopically. Mounted in KOH, many of the basidiospores of G. hypnorum reveal characteristic "ears" caused by the loosening of the outermost wall layer. Spores of this type are said to be calyptrate and can be observed in several species of Galerina, such as G. cerina and G. sphagnicola. The basidiospores in the plate here were photographed partly in Melzer's Soltion and partly in KOH. Those in KOH clearly show the calyptra, while those in Melzer's Solution mostly do not.

In common with several other species of Galerina, the name G. hypnorum has been used for several similar but different mushrooms. Usage of the name is still not entirely settled.

Common names: Moss Bell.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   The cap is 0.4–1.5 (2) cm in diameter, thin, initially conical, later conical-expanded, convex, convex-expanded. The surface of the cap is hygrophanous, bare, smooth, light ocher, ocher-red, light brown, and fades to grayish or dark cream when it dries.

2. Gills

   The hymenophore is lamellar. Plates of medium density or thick, thin, wide, accreted, reddish, ochre-brown.

3. Stem

   The stem is 1.5–4 cm high, 0.1–0.2 cm in diameter, cylindrical, capillary-like, sometimes thickened to the base, hollow, brittle, velvety above, covered with a white floury coating, below it is initially yellowish, light yellow or ocher yellowish, later reddish or brownish, smooth, thin-fibrous or bare.

4. Flesh

   The flesh is thin, brittle, brownish, or brownish, with a floury smell or without a pronounced smell.

5. Habitat and Distribution

   It grows from August to the end of October, in forests, in open areas, among moss, on soil, and the remains of rotten wood.

6. Spores

   8-14 * 4.5-9 μm, ovoid or spindle-oval in shape, with a smooth surface.

7. Spore Print

   Brown.

Synonyms

1. Agaricus hypni Batsch, 1786 (basionym)

2. Agaricus hypnorum Schrank, 1789

3. Conocybe hypnorum (Schrank) Murrill, 1912

4. Galera hypnorum (Schrank) P. Kumm., 1871

5. Galera rubiginosa var. hypnorum (Schrank) Rick, 1938

6. Galerina subhypnorum (G.F. Atk.) Singer, 1973

7. Galerula hypni (Batsch) Murrill, 1917

8. Galerula hypnorum (Schrank) Madre, 1933

9. Galerula subhypnorum G.F. Atk., 1918

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Poyt448, Peter Woodard (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Igor (Igor_Yevdokimov) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Ian Dodd (kk) (www.kundabungkid.com) Australia (kundabungkid) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Christine Braaten (wintersbefore) (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 5 - Author: James Lindsey (CC BY-SA 2.5)