Saturday, December 19, 2009

Mushroom: Gymnopus alkalivirens


Since it’s almost dark by the time I get home now, Thursday was the first opportunity to walk down to the creek since last weekend and before the rain – all 1.7 inches – forecast for yesterday. I was surprised to see a mushroom fruiting this late in December. I almost missed them. They were camouflaged well in the fallen leaves. Just a small patch of them - probably no more than a dozen - under the trees at the end of the house. I didn’t see any others along the path to the pool.


It looks like Gymnopus alkalivirens based on the description, reference photograph, and the fact that this is one of the few mushrooms that fruits this late in the year. This species was formerly Collybia alkalivirens, the Little Brown Collybia.

Click on an image to view a larger image


Identification resources:

- Mushroom Expert: Gymnopus alkalivirens

- Mushroom Observer: Gymnopus alkalivirens

- The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. ISBN: 0-394-51992-2. Little Brown Collybia (Collybia alkalivirens). Plate 108. Page 753.

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