Image of Stump fairy helmet

Description:

Slo.: opasta eladica - syn.: Mycena alcalina (Fr., Fr.) Kummer, Mycena alcalina sensu auct. p.p. - Habitat: mixed wood, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies dominant, calcareous, alluvial ground, almost flat terrain, probably locally acid ground (Vaccinium myrtillus abundant), in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 3-5 deg C, elevation 1.000 m (3.280 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: stump, roots and small twigs of Picea abies in the last stage of disintegration. Comments: Mycena stipata is relatively recently defined (1987). Two varieties (some authors consider them species) are known, which differ only microscopically: Mycena stipata var. stipata and Mycena stipata var. silvae-nigrae. The last one is typically a spring taxon, but its spores are according to Krieglsteiner (2001) significantly larger that what I measured (10-15/7-10 microns). Mycena stipata var. stipata grows mainly in autumn but also appears in spring. Spores fit well to this taxon. Growing in groups, a few together and also single; about 20 fruit bodies all together in an area of about 0.6 x 0.3 m; pilei diameter 16 - 26 mm, height 10-16 mm; stipe 2.5 - 3.5 mm diameter and 3 - 5 cm tall, hollow, fragile, smooth, with white mycelium at the base; taste rather strong, unpleasant; smell mild, mushroomy, on chemicals, a kind of nitrous; SP abundant, whitish-beige, oac900; pilei cuticle peels off in long narrow bands up to one half or more of pilei diameter. No microscopic study of hyphae and basidia has been done; hence the determination is not certain. Spores smooth. Dimensions: 8,5 [9,6 ; 10] 11 x 4,9 [5,7 ; 6] 6,8 microns; Q = 1,5 [1,7] 1,9; N = 40; C = 95%; Me = 9,8 x 5,8 microns; Qe = 1,7. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, fresh material, in water. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) J. Breitenbach, F. Kraenzlin, Eds., Fungi of Switzerland, Vol.3. Verlag Mykologia (1991), p 294. (2) G.J. Krieglsteiner (Hrsg.), Die Grosspilze Baden-Wrttembergs, Band 3, Ulmer (2001), p 420. (3) Ploss, citirt in Kriegelsteiner (2001), p 421. (4) L. Hagar, Ottova Encyklopedia Hb, Ottova Nakladatelstvi, Praha (2015) (in Slovakian), p 692.