Arrhenia epichysium (Persoon: Fries) Redhead, Lutzoni, & Vilgalys
Mycotaxon 83: 47. 2002.

Common Name: none

Synonym: Omphalina epichysium (Persoon) Quélet

• Pileus

  Cap 1.0-3.0 cm broad, convex-depressed to infundibuliform; margin incurved, then decurved; surface translucent-striate, hygrophanous, grey-brown to dingy-brown, fading to lighter shades, glabrous except furfuraceous at the center; context thin, approximately 1.0 mm thick, watery-brown, unchanging; odor and taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills decurrent, fairly well-spaced, relatively broad, up to 3.0 mm wide, light-grey, paler than the cap and stipe; lamellulae in three to four series.

• Stipe

  Stipe 1.0-2.5 cm long, 2.0-3.0 mm thick, more or less equal, hollow-stuffed in age, frequently white-tomentose at the base; surface glabrous, watery greyish-brown; partial veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 7.0-8.5 x 4.0-4.5 µm, elliptical to elliptical-oblong in face-view, slightly inequilateral in profile, smooth, thin-walled, hilar appendage inconspicuous, contents granular, inamyloid; spores deposit not seen.

• Habitat

  In small groups on hardwood and conifer logs; fruiting from late fall to mid-winter in coastal and foothill forests of the Sierra Nevada, again in the spring at higher elevations.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  Once an Omphalina, now placed in Arrhenia as a result of molecular studies, this small drab mushroom is recognized by a greyish-brown, umbilicate to funnel-shaped, grey-brown, striate cap, and lignicolous habit. Several Omphalina spp. (sensu lato) are similar, but can be separated by their different fruiting habits, i.e. on soil or in mossy areas. Arrhenia epichysium is sometimes confused with Lichenomphalia umbellifera, traditionally known as Omphalina ericetorum or Gerronema ericetorum. It also occurs occasionally on well decayed wood, but differs in a pale-brown to yellowish-brown, not grey to grey-brown cap. Additionally, as suggested by the genus name, it is actually a lichenized fungus, i.e. forms a symbiotic relationship with an alga. Evidence of this association can sometimes be seen as clumps of algae at the base of the stipe.

• References

  Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1991). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 3: Boletes and Agarics (1st Part). Strobilomycetaceae, Boletaceae, Paxillaceae, Gomphidiaceae, Hygrophoraceae, Tricholomataceae, Polyporaceae (lamellate). Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland. 361 p.
  Redhead, S.A., Lutzoni, F., Moncalvo, J.-M. & Vilgalys, R. (2002). Phylogeny of Agarics: Partial Systematics Solutions for Core Omphalinoid Genera in the Agaricales (Euagarics). Mycotaxon 83: 19-57.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Fred Stevens: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznick: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznick: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznick: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Arrhenia epichysium (CP)
  • MushroomExpert.com: Omphalina epichysium (D & CP)
  • Yves Deneyer: Omphalina epichysium (CP)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (v. 3): sp. 378 (D, I, & CP) [as Omphalina epichysium]
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)