Mycena interrupta

Mycena interrupta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Basidiomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Mycenaceae
Genus:	Mycena
Species:	M. interrupta
Binomial name
Mycena interrupta (Berk.) Sacc.

Mycena interrupta, commonly known as the Pixies' Parasol, is a species of mushroom. It has a Gondwanan distribution pattern, being found in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia ^[1] and Chile.^[2] In Australia it is found in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, and South Australia,^[3] and in Queensland where its distribution is limited to Lamington National Park.^[4]

Description

The caps of Mycena Interrupta range from 0.6 to 2 cm, and are a brilliant cyan blue colour. They are globose when emergent and then become a broad convex as they mature, with the centre of the cap slightly depressed. The caps are often sticky and appear slimy looking, particularly in moist weather.

The length of the stipe typically ranges from 1-2 cm long and 0.1-0.2 cm thick. It is white, smooth and the base of the stipe is attached to the wood substrate by a flat white disk, similar to Mycena Austrororida, which, unlike Mycena Interrupta is attached to the wood substrate by a mass of clumped fine hairs.

The gills are white, adnexed, with blue margins. The spores are white, smooth, ellipsoid and have dimensions of 7-10x4-6 µm.[6]

Unlike some other Mycena species, M. interrupta is not bioluminescent.^[5]

Habitat and Distribution

The Pixie's Parasol appears in small colonies on rotting, moist wood in rainforests and beech or eucalypt forests. It has a Gondwanan distribution.

Mycena interrupta growing on a log in East Gippsland.

External links

References

1. ^ http://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/mycogeography-distant.html
2. ^ http://www.biology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/9-2007/mycena-interrupta.html
3. ^ http://fungimap.rbg.vic.gov.au/fsp/sp006.html
4. ^ A field guide to the fungi of Australia. By Tony Young, A. M. Young, Kay Smith. Illustrated by Kay Smith. Published by UNSW Press, 2005. ISBN 0-86840-742-9, 978-0-86840-742-5. page 158
5. ^ Bioluminescent Mycena species from São Paulo, Brazil. Dennis E. Desjardin1, et al. Mycologia, 99(2), 2007, pp. 317–331. The Mycological Society of America, Lawrence.