Chromosera cyanophylla (Fries) Redhead, Ammirati and Norvell
Beih. Sydowia 10: 155-167. 1995.

Common Name: none

Synonyms: Mycena lilacifolia (Peck) A. H. Smith; Omphalina cyanophylla (Fr.) Quélet

• Pileus

  Cap 1.0-2.5 cm broad at maturity, at first convex, becoming plano-convex, in age the disc broadly flattened, depressed or umbillicate; margin translucent-striate to near the disc, incurved in youth, then decurved, occasionally plane at maturity; surface glabrous, viscid, lavender to lilac, soon fading to yellowish or yellowish-tan; context thin, < 1 mm, pallid, unchanging; odor indistinct; taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills decurrent, subdistant, lavender, fading to pale-lilac, cream-colored in age; lamellulae in 2-series.

• Stipe

  Stipe 1.0-2.5 cm long, 1.0-2.0 mm thick, fragile, hollow, more or less equal, sometimes sub-bulbous; surface glabrous, viscid, lavender, becoming yellowish to pale-tan in age, lavender-colored mycelium often at the base; partial veil absent.

• Spores

  Spores 6.0-7.5 x 3.0-3.5 µm, tear-shaped, smooth, thin-walled, hilar appendage not distinct, with numerous granular inclusions, inamyloid; spore print white.

• Habitat

  Gregarious to clustered on or under the bark of conifer logs; fruiting commonly in late spring after snow melt in montane regions, occasional during the winter months in coastal forests.

• Edibility

  Unknown; too small to be of culinary value.

• Comments

  Few fungi are prettier than this small, mycena-like snowbank mushroom. Early in development, it is a startling lavender, but soon fades to lilac and then yellowish. Collections from under bark often retain lavender-tints, thus make excellent photographic subjects. Compare with Chrysomphalina aurantiaca, a small, orange, lignicolous species with decurrent gills, distinguished by a moist, not viscid cap, and absence of lilac tones; Mycena epipterygia is a mushroom of coastal forests and is similar with a viscid, striate, cap, but the shape is typically umbonate, and the color more yellowish-olive to brown. Microscopically it is easily differentiated by amyloid spores.

• References

  Castellano, M. A., Cázares, E., Fondrick, B. & Dreisbach, T. (2003). Handbook to additional fungal species of special concern in the Northwest Forest Plan (Gen. Tech Rep. PNW-GTR-572). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 144 p.
  Redhead, S.A., Ammirati, J.F. & Norvell, L. (1995). Omphalina sensu lato in North America 3: Chromosera gen. nov. Sydowia Beih. 10: 155-167.
  Smith, Alexander H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Darvin DeShazer: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Handbook to Additional Fungal Species of Special Concern in the Northwest Forest Plan: Chromosera cyanophylla (D & CP)
  • Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Chromosera cyanophylla (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 236 (D), p. 237 (P) [as Mycena lilacifolia]
  • Orr & Orr: p. 236 (D), pl. 83 [as Mycena lilacifolia]
  
  

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