Maple Dust Lichen-Bog Ecosystem

Bleeding Fairy Helmet

Order:  Agaricales

Family:  Mycenaceae

Genus:  Mycena

Species:  M. haematopus

General Characteristics:

This fungus is saprobic on decaying wood of hardwoods and conifers (usually on logs that are well decayed and without bark).  It grows in dense clusters (sometimes singly or scattered); causing a white rot.  It is distributed in North America; spring, summer, and fall; common.  The cap is 1-3.5 cm; oval, becoming broadly bell-shaped or conic; the margin often with a tiny sterile portion, becoming tattered; dry and dusted with fine powder when young, becoming smooth and tacky; sometimes shallowly lined or grooved; dark reddish brown at the center, lighter towards the margin. The gills are narrowly attached to the stem; close or nearly distant; whitish, becoming grayish to purplish; stained reddish brown. The stem is 4-8 cm long; 1-2 mm thick; equal; hollow; smooth or with pale reddish hairs; exuding a purplish red juice when crushed or broken. The flesh is pallid or colored like the cap; exuding a purplish red juice when crushed or cut.

Special Adaptations:

If you combine blackberry picking with your mushrooming, you may not notice the feature that defines this little mushroom: it exudes a purplish juice that stains your fingers. Sometimes called the "Bleeding Mycena," Mycena haematopus is one of the few Mycena species that is easily recognized. The purple juice comes out readily when the mushroom's flesh is squeezed--especially in the base of the stem. It grows on dead wood, separating it from the other Bleeding Mycena, Mycena sanguinolenta, which is terrestrial.