Bitter Stropharia

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic; growing scattered or gregariously on wood chips or in sawdust, lawns, gardens, and so on; fall through spring; coastal California. Cap: 2-6 cm; convex, becoming broadly convex, broadly bell-shaped, or nearly flat; sticky when fresh, but soon dry; scarlet to reddish orange or reddish brown; smooth; when young adorned with white partial veil remnants. Gills: Attached to the stem, often by a notch; close; pale yellow at first, later purplish gray to purple-black; with whitish to pale yellow edges when mature. Stem: 3-7 cm long; up to 1 cm thick; dry; with or without a ring zone; fairly smooth or finely hairy; whitish to yellowish, staining reddish orange with maturity; base often with whitish to yellowish mycelial threads.

Habitat:

widely distributed in North America

Notes:

The habitat and bright orange colors of Leratiomyces ceres are distinctive, but it is sometimes confused with Leratiomyces squamosus var. thraustus, which decomposes woody debris in hardwood and conifer forests (at least in North America) and has a slimier cap, as well as a sturdy, gracefully arched ring and a shaggy stem. Leratiomyces squamosus var. thraustus also differs microscopically (it lacks chrysocystidia).