Appalachian Mushrooms. Walter E. Sturgeon

but recent studies indicate a possible association with mosses and other plants; gregarious to scattered on the ground, in litter, and in moss; summer and fall; locally common

      EDIBILITY: Unknown

      COMMENTS: This striking species is aptly named because it is more common in the Appalachian mountain region than any other area. The red stem, at times purplish-red cap, and the yellow gill edges set it apart.

       Hygrocybe appalachianensis

       SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hygrocybe minutula (Peck) Murrill

       SYNONYM: Gliophorus minutulus (Peck) Kovalenko

       COMMON NAME: None

       FAMILY: Hygrophoraceae

      CAP: Up to 3/4 in. wide; scarlet to reddish orange, fading to yellow or orangish yellow in age, not staining black; convex to broadly convex, becoming nearly flat in age; surface glutinous to viscid, bald, obscurely translucent striate at times

      FLESH: Colored like the cap or paler; not staining when exposed; thin, fragile; odor and taste not distinctive

      GILLS: Yellowish orange or pale orange; attached to the stem or pulling away, with a decurrent tooth; close to subdistant; edges even; no partial veil

      STEM: Up to 2 in. long; reddish or yellowish, often paler near the base; equal or tapered downward; fragile; at times constricted and hollow in age; surface bald, viscid, or glutinous

      SPORE PRINT: White

      ECOLOGY: Probably symbiotic with mosses and possibly other plants; scattered to gregarious in moss, humus, or soil, often in grassy areas under broadleaf trees; late spring, summer, and early fall; uncommon

      EDIBILITY: Not edible

      COMMENTS: Collecting this fragile mushroom intact requires care. It is very slippery! Hygrocybe miniata (p. 74) is larger and has a dry to moist cap.

       Hygrocybe minutula

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hygrocybe flavescens (Kauffman) Singer

       SYNONYM: Hygrophorus flavescens (Kauffman) A. H. Sm. and Hesler

       COMMON NAME: Golden Wax Cap

       FAMILY: Hygrophoraceae

      CAP: Up to 2-1/2 in wide; orange, yellowish orange, or orange with a yellow margin; convex to broadly convex, becoming flat; viscid when wet; shiny when dry; bald; obscurely translucent striate; margin turned under at first

      FLESH: Yellowish; thin; waxy; odor and taste not distinctive

      GILLS: Yellow, white, or pale yellow; notched or occasionally broadly attached to the stem; broad; close to subdistant; waxy; edges even; no partial veil

      STEM: Up to 2-1/2 in. long; pale yellow, yellow, orange, usually paler at the base; equal or slightly tapered at the base; often compressed; fragile, splitting easily; surface moist but not viscid

      SPORE PRINT: White

      ECOLOGY: Considered to be saprobic, but recent studies indicate a possible association with mosses and other plants; gregarious to scattered on the ground, well-decayed wood, and in moss in broadleaf and mixed woods; summer and fall; common

      EDIBILITY: Not recommended; reported as edible by some authors, but there are also reports of digestive upsets; even if edible, its thin, waxy flesh does not make it appealing as an esculent

      COMMENTS: This is one of the first Hygrocybe species to appear in late spring or early summer. Hygrocybe chlorophana (p. 71) has a brighter yellow cap and a viscid stem. The author has observed mixed collections fruiting together in gregarious groups.

       Hygrocybe flavescens

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hygrocybe nitrata (Pers.) Wünsche

       SYNONYM: Hygrophorus nitratus (Pers.) Fr.

       COMMON NAME: None

       FAMILY: Hygrophoraceae

      CAP: Up to 2-3/4 in. wide; grayish brown to buff; bell-shaped at first, becoming convex and finally flat; surface dry, bald at first and then breaking up into fine fibers and squamules

      FLESH: Brownish gray; thin; not staining when cut or bruised; odor nitrous, medicinal; taste acidic

      GILLS: White with grayish tints; notched; subdistant; broad; waxy; edges even; no partial veil

      STEM: Up to 4 in. long; white or grayish; equal or enlarged at the base; surface bald; hollow

      SPORE PRINT: White

      ECOLOGY: Considered to be saprobic, but recent studies indicate a possible association with mosses and other plants; gregarious to scattered in broadleaf and conifer woods on the ground, in litter, and in moss; summer and fall; occasional

      EDIBILITY: Unknown

      COMMENTS: The nitrous odor of this rather drab-colored species will set it apart from other similar mushrooms.

       Hygrocybe nitrata

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Neohygrocybe subovina (Hesler and A. H. Sm.) Lodge and Padamsee

       SYNONYM: Hygrocybe subovina (Hesler and A. H. Sm.) Lodge and S. A. Cantrell

       COMMON NAME: None

       FAMILY: Hygrophoraceae

      CAP: Up to 2 in. wide; dark grayish brown when dry, nearly black when moist; convex to broadly convex, becoming flat; surface dry, fibrillose, slightly scaly at times, or smooth

      FLESH: Colored about like the cap, at times paler, unchanging when damaged; thick over the center, thin at the margin; odor sweet, like brown sugar; taste not distinctive or slightly soapy

      GILLS: Whitish to grayish brown, bruising reddish; just reaching the stem or notched; broad; distant to subdistant; edges usually even but at times distinctly saw-toothed; waxy; no partial veil

      STEM: Up to 2-1/2 long; colored about like the cap, at times paler or darker; tapering up or sometimes equal; cylindrical, sometimes compressed; hollow; surface bald, longitudinally striate

      SPORE PRINT: White

      ECOLOGY: Mycorrhizal; scattered to gregarious in broadleaf and mixed woods, often under oaks; summer and fall

      EDIBILITY: Unknown

      COMMENTS: The photo shown here was of a collection that lacked the characteristic sweet odor and had saw-tooth gills, which is somewhat unusual. Otherwise it is typical.