Mycena crocea
Mycena crocea, commonly known as the walnut mycena, is a species of mushroom in the family Mycenaceae.
The small mushroom has a bright yellow, conical to broadly convex cap up to in diameter. The stem is tough and thin, up to tall, bright yellow at the top becoming progressively orange towards the base. The gills are adnate, subdistant, and yellowish, becoming lighter in age; and the spore print is white.
The mushroom is saprobic and found exclusively on hickory nuts and walnuts in eastern North America.
Taxonomy
It was first described as Marasmius nucicola in 1925 but that name could not be used in Mycena. The mushroom is commonly known as the "walnut mycena" and was previously and commonly misidentified as Mycena luteopallens.The specific epithet crocea refers to the orange color.
Description
The cap is vivid yellow, conical to broadly convex cap and up to in diameter. When young the cap tends to be conical or bell-shaped becoming plane or flat at maturity. The margin is striated. The surface is moist, glabrous, and somewhat hygrophanous. The flesh is thin, pallid, and yellowish. The odor and taste are not distinctive. The gills have an adnate attachment and are a pale yellowish color. They are subdistantly spaced. The sturdy stem is long by thick. The stipe is central, equal, and dark orange to yellowish.The species is regarded as nonpoisonous, but is not necessarily edible.