Marasmius androsaceus - Horsehair Parachute

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

There is little obvious difference between this tiny mushroom and the Collared Parachute, Marasmius rotula, until you glance beneath the cap and you will see that the gills are attached directly to the stem and not to a collar. Other distinguishing features are the remarkably long stem in comparison with the size of the cap, and fine horsehair-like threads of densely interwoven mycelium extending outwards from the stem base in search of new substrate material to colonise.

They may be small, but these little Marasmius mushrooms know how to swarm.

Identification Guide

Cap	Convex initially, flattening with a depressed centre at maturity; radially grooved and wrinkled; 0.4 to 1cm across. pinkish buff, usually paler towards the margin.
Gills	Adnate; distant; pinkish-buff, turning ochre when old.
Stem	Very thin, tough and wiry; 2.5 to 5cm long and less than 1mm dia.; black; no ring.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	On dead wood, usually from deciduous hardwood trees.
Season	June to November.
Occurrence	Common.
Similar species	A similar species Marasmius rotula, known as the Collared Parachute, has its gills attached to a collar that surrounds the stem.