This is a small bell-shaped, pleated mushroom with a white cap and sunken center(A). It has white gills and a tough shiny black stalk. The cap ranges from 1/16- about ½ inches wide. The cap is cushion shaped becoming convex and broadly sunken with a central cup. It is pleated or furrowed. The gills are attached either to the stalk or collar (C). The stalk ranges from ½ – 3 ½ inches long and becomes blackish brown in color (B).
This mushroom is seen from May to October in dense clusters on decaying deciduous wood. In Fontenelle Forest it is uncommon with some being found on Hackberry trail behind the visitors’ center.
Like most marasmius species this one revives with rain and seems to appear overnight in the wet morning woods.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Eric Scholar.