Hypholoma aurantiaca (Cooke) J. Faus
Bol. Soc. Micol. Cast. 7: 70. 1892.

Common Name: none

Synonyms: Naematoloma aurantiaca (Cooke) Guzmán, Stropharia aurantiaca(Cooke) P. D. Orton, Psilocybe ceres (Cooke & Masse) Sacc.

• Pileus

  Cap 2.5-6.0 cm broad, convex, becoming broadly convex, obtusely umbonate, margin with veil fragments disappearing in age; surface subviscid when moist, otherwise dry, smooth, reddish-brown to orange-brown; flesh thin, pale colored with pinkish tones below the cuticle; odor and taste mild.

• Lamellae

  Gills close, adnate to notched, at first pale greyish-brown, then olive-brown, finally brownish-purple at maturity, edges lighter than the faces.

• Stipe

  Stipe 4-6 cm tall, 0.5-1.0 cm thick, equal to slightly enlarged at the base, the latter with conspicuous pallid to pale yellow mycelium; veil membranous, thin, leaving a fragile, evanescent, medial ring; surface pallid often developing orange-brown stains in age, smooth above ring, finely scaled below, the scales typically weathering away in age.

• Spores

  Spores 10-13 x 6-8 µm, elliptical, smooth. Spore print purple brown.

• Habitat

  Solitary, gregarious to clustered on wood chips, occasionally in grass; from early fall to late winter, but fruiting sporadically any month of the year when moisture is available.

• Edibility

  Unknown.

• Comments

  Hypholoma aurantiaca is an attractive small reddish-brown mushroom common in Bay Area parks but rare in natural woodlands. Besides its brightly colored cap, other identifying characteristics include an appendiculate cap margin when young, a purple brown spore print (often seen on overlapping caps) and its preference for woody debris, particularly wood chips.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Bob Mackler: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP) --Shows the orange-brown stains on the stipe that are typical of mature sporocarps.
  • Fred Stevens: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Boleslaw Kuznik -- Hunting for Mushrooms: Hypholoma aurantiaca (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 382 (D), plate 93 (CP) [Naematoloma aurantiaca]
  • Jordan: p. 260 (D & CP) [Stropharia aurantiaca]
  • Watling & Gregory (1987): p. 66 (D) [Stropharia aurantiaca]

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)