Mycena capillaripes

Pileus
Cap 1-2 cm broad, convex, becoming bell-shaped, slightly knobbed or umbonate at maturity; margin entire to slightly scalloped; surface smooth, translucent-striate when moist, grey-brown, sometimes tinged pale vinaceous, fading to pale grey, then slightly furrowed; flesh thin, grey, unchanging; odor of bleach; taste mild.

Lamellae
Gills adnate, moderately broad, close, in age subdistant, ashy-grey, edges pinkish.

Stipe
Stipe 4-6 cm long, 1-2 mm thick, thin, fragile, hollow; equal or slightly enlarged at the base; apex faintly pruinose, otherwise smooth or polished, colored like the cap but the apex usually paler; veil absent.

Spores
Spores 8-11 x 4-6.5 µm, smooth, elliptical, amyloid; spore print white.

Habitat
Scattered or in troops under conifers; especially common in needle duff of Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) and Bishop pine (Pinus muricata); fruiting in moist weather throughout the mushroom season.

Edibility
Unknown. The bleach odor is a deterrent and the small size is even more of a deterrent!

Comments
Mycena capillaripes is one of several grey-brown, bleach-odored Mycenas that occur in our area. Its most distinguishing feature is pink-edged (marginate) gills, best seen with a hand lens. Mycena leptocephala, also common on conifer needles, is similar but lacks marginate gills. Another bleach-odored species, Mycena alcalina, fruits primarily on rotting conifer wood. It also lacks marginate gills.