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When picking mushrooms, it is very important to correctly determine which inhabitants of the forest are safe and which are inedible or even poisonous. Mycena filopes is a common mushroom, but not everyone knows what it looks like and whether it is safe for humans.
What do filamentous mycenae look like?
Mycena thread-legged is a representative of the Ryadovkovy family, which includes about 200 species, which are sometimes very difficult to distinguish from each other.
The hat can be bell-shaped or cone-shaped. Its dimensions are quite small – the diameter rarely exceeds 2 cm. The color varies from gray or dark brown to white or beige-grayish. The color intensity decreases from the center to the edges. In dry weather, a characteristic silvery coating can be seen on the surface.
The hat has the property of hygrophobia – it swells under the influence of moisture, and depending on the weather, it can change colors.
The hymenophore of the mycena filamentous is of the lamellar type, it is a part of the fruiting body where the accumulation of spore powder is located. The number of spores that the fungus is able to produce directly depends on its development. In the thread-legged variety, it is covered with adherent plates – outgrowths connecting the lower part of the fruit body with the upper one. The plates are 1,5-2,5 cm long, convex (sometimes with teeth). Their color can be pale gray, beige or light brown. Spore powder white.
The thread-legged mycena got its name due to the very thin stem. Its length is usually 10-15 cm, and the thickness is only 0,1-0,2 cm. Inside it is hollow with even smooth walls. The leg can grow both straight and slightly curved. The surface of the lower part of the fruit body in young specimens is slightly velvety, but becomes smooth over time. The color at the base is dark gray or brownish, in the middle it is pale gray, and near the cap it is white. From below, the leg may be covered with pale hairs or fungal filaments, which are part of the mycelium.
The flesh of the thread-legged mycena is very thin and tender, has a grayish-white tint. In fresh specimens, it has practically no smell, but as it dries, it acquires a very pronounced smell of iodine.
Many varieties of mycena are very similar to each other. In addition, in the process of growth, they can significantly change their appearance, which sometimes makes identification difficult. The following species have the greatest resemblance to mycena nitkonogoy:
- Mycena cone (Mycena metata). Like the thread-legged hat, it has a conical shape and a beige-brown color. You can distinguish the cone-shaped one by the pink edges of the cap, as well as the color of the plates, which can be white or pinkish. In addition, it lacks the silver sheen on the cap, which is characteristic of the thread-legged variety.
- Mycena bell-shaped (Mycena galericulata). Young specimens of this species have a bell-shaped cap similar to the thread-legged one and are brownish-beige in color. The peculiarity of the cap is that in the center of the cap there is a pronounced tubercle of dark color, and over time it itself takes on a prostrate shape. It also lacks the silvery coating that distinguishes the threadleg.
Where do filamentous mycenae grow?
Filamentous mycena can be found in deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as in thickets of a mixed type. Comfortable conditions for its growth are moss, fallen needles or fallen foliage. It also often grows on old stumps or rotting trees. This is due to the fact that the mushroom belongs to saprophytes, that is, it feeds on dead plant remains, thereby helping to clear the forest. Most often, mycena filamentous grows in single specimens, but sometimes small groups can also be found.
Distribution area – most European countries, the territory of Asia and North America. The fruiting period is from the second half of summer to October.
Mycena filiformis is included in the list of rare mushrooms of Latvia and included in the Red Book of this country, but is not considered rare in Our Country.
Is it possible to eat mycenae filamentous
Mycologists currently do not have reliable information whether mycena filamentous is edible; officially, the fungus is classified as an inedible species. Therefore, it is not recommended to collect it.
Conclusion
Mycena filamentous is a small mushroom on a thin stalk, often found in the forests of Our Country. Its main task is to absorb the dead remains of trees. Since there is no data on the edibility of the thread-legged variety, it is not recommended to eat it. Due to the similarity of some types of mycena among themselves, both harmless and completely inedible, one should be very careful when collecting these mushrooms.
