Dark Light
Horsehair fungus
Gymnopus androsaceus

Here’s another little mushroom that I need to find again and get some photos of it’s gills. In the meantime, I’m pretty sure this is Horsehair fungus. And it’s so cute!!

This is also an example of a common name that makes sense to me – clearly the stem is reminiscent of horsehair.

Alternate Names: Horsehair Parachute
Size: Cap is 3-8 mm broad, stem 2-7 cm long, 1mm thick.
Family: Omphalotaceae
Habitat: Grows on the litter of conifers.
Identification: This mushroom has a long, dark and wiry stem, slightly pink fills, and a pinkish-brown widely pleated cap. The gills are attached to the stem, and not to a "collar" which helps to identify this particular species.

All text and photos copyright © 2022 Middle Way Nature Reserve, unless noted.
Related Posts

Gray Urn Fungi

Oh, the devil's got an urn, where he collects all the souls, careful for your turn, in the devil urn!

Black-foot Parachute

It's not every day you see a tiny mushroom growing right out of a leaf stem... definitely a first for me.
Cinnabar Chantrelle

Cinnabar Chanterelle

Who knew chanterelles came in bright cinnamon red color? I didn't! These little teeny chanterelles may be small, but usually where you find one, you find many more.