Mycena strobilinoides

Description

Mycena strobilinoides can be distinguished by its brilliant orange cap and stipe with orange-marginate gills. It occurs less commonly elsewhere in northern North America and also in Europe. M. strobilinoides seems to be most common at mid-elevations in the mountains, often in association with pines. Grows scattered to gregarious on conifer needles; uncommon in the Klamath and Cascade Ranges of northern California.

Edibility is unknown, too small to have culinary value.

Common names: Scarlet Fairy Helmet.

Look-Alikes

1. Mycena oregonensis

   Is similar but smaller with more yellow coloration and lacks marginate gills.

2. Atheniella aurantiidisca

   Is also similar but has pale yellowish-white gills without a deeply pigmented margin and a more yellow stipe.

3. Mycena aurantiomarginata

   Has orange gills with darker orange edges, but this species has a cap with dark brown to brownish orange disc, a more brownish-orange stipe, and occurs along the coast at lower elevations.

Synonyms

1. Prunulus strobilinoides Murrill

2. Prunulus aurantiacus Murrill

3. Mycena aurantiaca Murrill

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: BlueCanoe (CC BY-SA 3.0)