Collybiopsis quercophila
This tiny fungus, featuring true gills and a hair-like stem, grows on rotting hardwood leaves after fall rains.
Appearance
- Cap very small (2-6 mm.), light-brown in the center, and pale to cream-buff at the margin
- True gills present on the underside of the cap
- Hair-like stipe (stem)
- Grows alone or scattered
At Edgewood
- See iNaturalist for observations in Edgewood
About
- Basidiomycetes – a major lineage of fungi that usually produce spores within basidia (club-like structures)
- Reclassified in 2019 from Gymnopus to Marasmiellus and then in 2021 to Collybiopsis
- Found shortly after fall rains
- Saprotrophic – grows exclusively on rotting hardwood leaves, especially oaks (Quercus) and tanoaks (Notholithocarpus densiflora), the latter not found at Edgewood
- Edibility (San Mateo County Parks prohibits removal of any natural material)
- Unknown
- Unless you are an expert, do not pick and consume wild mushrooms
Fun Facts
- Oak-leaf pinwheels can rehydrate to their original size and shape after drying
Learn More
Kuo, M. 2021, Mar. The gilled mushrooms. MushroomExpert.Com.
Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 14. #013: Characteristics of division Basidiomycota. Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
Roehl, T. 2017, Jul. 7. #027: Gilled mushrooms (agarics). Fungus Fact List. Fungus Fact Friday.
References
Desjardin, D.E., M.G. Wood, and F.A. Stevens. 2016. California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Wood, M., and F. Stevens. 2021. Collybiopsis quercophila. The Fungi of California. MykoWeb.