Gymnopus brassicolens

Morphological Features:

Pileus in adult specimens barely reaches 4 cm in diameter, initially convex, but one of the characteristics of this species is that its pileus flattens very rapidly, becoming slightly depressed at the center with age. Cuticle somewhat rugose with a fundamentally ochre color, but as it is a hygrophanous fungus, its tone varies depending on the degree of hydration, showing reddish tints when moist and more straw-colored when dry. The margin is often paler, and in moist specimens it appears distinctly striate.

Lamellae adnate to subfree, whitish when young, turning pinkish-ochre and may exhibit reddish spots. They are crowded and irregularly arranged.

Stipe rather elongated and tapering at the base, sometimes laterally compressed. It is colored similarly to the pileus or somewhat reddish, but darkens from the base upwards, with only the upper third remaining reddish in age.

Flesh scant, with a gelatinous consistency in the pileus, much tougher in the stipe. It has a strong and characteristic odor of rotting cabbage that is repulsive and certainly not inviting to taste.

Habitat:

This is a relatively uncommon species in our region, found on a clearing with young pine plantations, where it occurred gregariously in fairly large groups. It is documented in the literature under both conifers and broadleaf trees, and growth in fascicles has also been reported. We collected it in spring, although it may also fruit during autumn.

Observations:

This fungus is characterized by its small stature, reddish hues, and above all by its unmistakable and unpleasant odor of rotting cabbage. Another species possessing this characteristic odor is Micromphale foetidum, which features a sulcate pileus margin and exhibits a somewhat more lignicolous habit, fruiting on woody debris or branches of various broadleaf trees. Micromphale rufocarneum is very similar but completely odorless.