Marasmius albogriseus (Peck) Singer 1943

Macroscopically Marasmius albogriseus is fairly distinct. The combination of the light-gray tones, wide-space lamellae, and tough texture are distinctive. It is similar in shape and stature to Marasmius oreades, but M. albogriseus has distinct gray tones and is more often found in leaf litter as opposed to the tan tones and lawn habitat of M. oreades. It would be possible to confuse this species with a gray Hygrophorus s.l., but those species should be less tough and are generally more viscid. Microscopically the relative short basidia and the dextrinoid tramal tissue should identify it as a Marasmius.

Most common in southern California, but it has been recorded as far north as Oakland.

Pileus: 1.5-3.5 cm broad, rounded, becoming broadly convex to nearly plane; margin becoming translucent-striate; surface moist, smooth, gray-brown to gray to grayish white often darken in towards the center; often developing darker tones where it has dried; flesh thick, reviving after being dried; odor and taste mild. Cap becoming distinctly wavy in age.

Lamellae: Adnexed to nearly free, subdistant to distant, interspersed with 1-2 series of lamellulae. May be lightly intervenose; color similar to cap, but typically a bit lighter.

Stipe: 2-5 cm tall, 2-6 mm thick, equal, can be compressed, tough, whitish to pale grayish, the base with short hairs (tomentose); veil absent.

Spore print: White.

In southern California this species is typically found in live oak (Quercus agrifolia) leaf duff. Interestingly the one observation from we have from northern California was under cypress.

Marasmius oreades and some Hygrophorus s.l. species. See Diagnostic Description for more details.

I have heard that this species was commonly eaten by the native peoples of southern California, but I need to find a real reference.