commonly known species mushroom family fruit bodies small pale gray brown mushrooms broadly conical caps pinkish gills found small troops stumps branches deciduous occasionally coniferous trees mushroom found asia europe north_america typically found twigs buried wood carrying role forest ecosystem organic matter recycling nutrients forming soil contains uncommon fungus intensity light follows pattern taxonomy called french mycologist species later sanctioned soon transferred genus raised sub generic divisions genus level described known taxonomic synonym specific epithet derived greek meaning foot commonly known description cap fruit body diameter initially cone shaped expands bell shaped nearly convex abrupt small times plane young fruit bodies cap margin slightly curved inward frequently edges maturity margin surface cap initially covered short fine whitish grayish hairs persist near maturity age cap surface smooth color dark brownish gray black beneath bloom fading slowly pale gray nearly pinkish buff times cap margin frequently narrow deep furrows grooves surface uneven appearing lines flesh hard grayish white thin distinctive odor mild taste gills narrowly attached stem short tooth packed close gills reaching stem broad white whitish age pink brownish edges stem long thick equal tubular developed resembles white cotton base covered stiff white hairs reddish brown surface fine straight twisted longitudinal surface gray paler grayish brown beneath covering times nearly smooth apex mushroom extent vary considerably mushroom mild slightly taste pleasant odor microscopic features collected deposit spore print spores appear white viewed light microscope spores broadly ellipsoid shape smooth dimensions occasionally spores contain oil basidia bearing cells spored cheilocystidia scattered abundant somewhat enlarged apex branched rise finger like projections pleurocystidia differentiated similar species tall slender forms somewhat resemble species distinguished color relationship habitat ecology habitat distribution fruit bodies grow groups sub clusters particularly deciduous trees oak maple north_america collected north_carolina massachusetts new_york michigan fruits june october fruit bodies susceptible attack parasitic fungi typically found twigs buried wood fungus known vigorous leaf litter saprobic fungus fungi contribute plant litter forest ecosystems nutrient recycling formation soil litter break preference experiment testing ability litter fungi remove leaves perennial grass pure culture conditions showed limited ability cause mass loss rare north_america fungus common europe including great_britain collected japan chemistry contains unusual acid total acid fungus dozen species unlike organisms rhythm intensity rises falls light intensity high percent light typically noticed detected visually dark adapted eye sensitive long exposure times required measure phenomenon emissions fungus grown pure culture range cited books smith north american species michigan
Mycena polygramma