Image of Mycena meliigena (Berk. & Cooke) Sacc. 1887

Description:

Slo.: lubjeva eladica - syn.: Mycena corticola (Pers.) Fr. - Habitat: mixed broadleaved and conifer wood, locally almost flat terrain, cretaceous clastic rock (flysh) bedrock, in shade; dry place, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, elevation 470 m (1.550 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: still standing Alnus sp. bark lightly overgrown with mosses; on northeast side of the trunk. - Comments: This incredible small and filigree mushroom is, no doubt, frequently overlooked. Tiny, only a few millimeters tall, more or less brown on more or less brown, cracked tree bark, it hides itself perfectly. However, looked from close the impression is much different. Its size, unusual hyphal ends of the cortical layer of the stipe and hypha with strange digitiform outgrowths distinguish it from other small Mycena species. Growing in a group of a few fruit bodies, pileus diameter 2 to 4 mm, SP very faint, almost invisible, probably whitish. - Spores smooth. Dimensions: 8,1 [9,1 ; 9,6] 10,5 x 7,3 [8 ; 8,4] 9,1 microns; Q = 1 [1,1 ; 1,2] 1,3; N = 26; C = 95%; Me = 9,3 x 8,2 microns; Qe = 1,1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (hypha), in water; fresh material; AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mr. Bojan Rot, found by him; www.gobenabovskem.com (2) http://www.mycena.no/meliigena.htm (3) http://www.mushroomexpert.com/mycena_corticola.html (4) J. Breitenbach, F. Kraenzlin, Eds., Fungi of Switzerland, Vol.3. Verlag Mykologia (1991), p 280. (5) G.J. Krieglsteiner (Hrsg.), Die Grosspilze Baden-Wrttembergs, Band 3., Ulmer (2001), p 466. (6) S. Buczacki, Collins Fungi Guide, Collins (2012), p 214.