commonly known fairy helmet foot species fungus family mushrooms produced fungus relatively large genus convex grayish caps diameter stems long gills underside cap whitish pale gray initially closely spaced spaced maturity cap mushrooms characterized dense covering white hairs base stem example fungus growing decayed logs near known high elevation areas western north_america particularly cascade regions reported time japan edibility mushroom unknown distinguished comparable species differences location spore size history naming species described basis specimens collected wyoming specific epithet honors early 20th century american mycologist commonly known fairy helmet foot shares given japanese description produces largest mushrooms genus caps diameter convex shape developing central resembling maturity cap surface smooth moist marked radial caps somewhat depending age state range color brown grayish brown dark bluish gray mushroom flesh thin light gray color gills attachment stem initially closely spaced spaced maturity whitish pale gray color stain gray bruised tiers short gills extend fully cap margin stem interspersed gills stem long thick upward stem apex slightly thinner base straight curved like flesh hollow maturity growing soft decayed wood stem deeply substrate stem pinkish brown color lower half densely covered white hairs mushroom like odor mild taste edibility unknown considered poisonous microscopic characteristics viewed deposit spore print spores appear white spores roughly elliptical appearing shaped dimensions thin walled smooth bear indistinct spores meaning absorb turn black blue black stained melzer reagent basidia spore bearing cells spored cheilocystidia cystidia gill edge scattered interspersed basidia roughly shaped smooth hyaline translucent measure pleurocystidia cystidia gill face uncommon similar appearance cheilocystidia cap cuticle fungal tissue type hyphae gelatinous lie flat smooth hyphae diameter cap flesh meaning turn reddish brown melzer reagent clamp connections present hyphae similar species similar grow clusters wood include fruit bodies develop red mature characteristic inconsistent reliably identification spores larger measuring similar appearance undergo reddish spores similar species distinguished like odor eastern north american distribution fruiting season summer autumn small spores measuring habitat distribution species found singly clusters logs stumps near melting moist snow chambers formed snow cool nighttime temperatures reduce rate help ensure spores released mushroom dispersed soil mushroom common western north_america particularly pacific_northwest rocky_mountains cascade mountains reported states california washington wyoming known oregon found western canada mushroom restricted areas minimum elevations reported growing coniferous forests japan plantations fir natural forests dominated fir spruce north_america mushroom usually appears march july japanese collections fruiting period prolonged especially areas heavy snowfall high elevations delayed
Mycena overholtsii