Crepidotus mollis

Pileus
Fruiting body 1.0-5.0 cm broad, bean to shell-shaped, laterally attached to the substrate and sessile; cuticle gelatinous when moist, surface pallid to cream, typically covered with fibrillose-brown scales, the latter sometimes weathering away in age; flesh thin, white, quickly bruising buff; veil absent; odor and taste mild.

Stipe
Gills moderately broad, close, at first pale buff, then brown, emanating from the attachment point.

Spores
Spores 6-9 x 4.5-6.0 µm, elliptical, smooth; spore print brown.

Habitat
Solitary, scattered to gregarious on hardwood logs, sometimes on the bark of living trees, uncommon on conifer wood; frequently found on Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and oaks (Quercus); fruiting from late fall to mid-winter.

Edibility
Unknown; too small and unsubstantial to be of culinary value.

Comments
The shell-shaped fruiting bodies of Crepidotus mollis are sometimes mistaken for a small oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). It, however, seldom approaches the size of the oyster mushroom, and is easily distinguished by a brown rather than white spore print. Other important field characters are the brown, fibrillose cap scales and a gelatinous cuticle, the latter best seen in moist weather.