Crepidotus mollis (Fries) Staude
Schwämme Mitteldeutschlands, p. 71. 1857.

Common Name: none

• Pileus

  Fruiting body 1.0-5.0 cm broad, bean to shell-shaped, laterally attached to the substrate and sessile; cuticle gelatinous when moist, surface pallid to cream, typically covered with fibrillose-brown scales, the latter sometimes weathering away in age; flesh thin, white, quickly bruising buff; veil absent; odor and taste mild.

• Stipe

  Gills moderately broad, close, at first pale buff, then brown, emanating from the attachment point.

• Spores

  Spores 6-9 x 4.5-6.0 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print brown.

• Habitat

  Solitary, scattered to gregarious on hardwood logs, sometimes on the bark of living trees, uncommon on conifer wood; frequently found on Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and oaks (Quercus); fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

• Edibility

  Unknown; too small and unsubstantial to be of culinary value.

• Comments

  The shell-shaped fruiting bodies of Crepidotus mollis are sometimes mistaken for a small oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). It, however, seldom approaches the size of the oyster mushroom, and is easily distinguished by a brown rather than white spore print. Other important field characters are the brown, fibrillose cap scales and a gelatinous cuticle, the latter best seen in moist weather.

• References

  Hesler, L.R. & Smith, A.H. (1965). North American Species of Crepidotus. Hafner Publishing Company: New York, NY. 168 p.
  Senn-Irlet, B. (1995). The Genus Crepidotus (Fr.) Staude in Europe. Persoonia 16(1): 1-80.
  Watling, R. & Gregory, N.M. (1989). British Fungus Flora: Agarics and Boleti. Vol 6. Crepidotaceae and other pleurotoid agarics. Royal Botanic Garden: Edinburgh, Scotland. 157 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Brother Alfred Brousseau: Crepidotus mollis (CP) -- a closeup of the gills
  • Fred Stevens: Crepidotus mollis (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Crepidotus mollis (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Crepidotus mollis (CP) -- gills
  • Michael Wood: Crepidotus mollis (CP) -- surface of cap
  • Hesler & Smith: Crepidotus mollis (D, I, & P)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Crepidotus mollis (CP)
  • Elias Fries' fungus plates: Crepidotus mollis (I)
  • Mushroom Observer: Crepidotus mollis (CP)
  • Arora (1986): P. 406 (D & P)
  • Jordan: p. 264 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 637 (D), plate 504
  • Miller: sp. 225 (D)
  • Phillips: p. 210 (D & CP)
  
  

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