The Secret Magic of Worm Composting That No One Talks About
October 31, 2024
Mushroom Monday: Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata)
Today’s Mushroom Monday mushroom is the Common Bonnet (Mycena galericulata). The common name describes it quite well. It looks like a certain kind of ancient hat and it is a relatively common mushroom. We’ve looked at a Mycena mushroom before (the Orange Mycena). Learn about the Common Bonnet in today’s TrueTreeTalk post.
The Common Bonnet Cap
The caps of common bonnets are generally brown in color and range from around 1.5 to 2 inches across at maturity. They start out with a cone or a ball shape and a dark color. As the mushroom grows, the cap becomes shaped like a bell or becomes convex. Once grown, it can retain a bump in the center.
The cap can have indistinct lines or grooves coming from the center that mirror the gills on the underside. They are hairless and the center can be darker than the edges. As the mushroom ages, the cap can roll inward and the edges can have a scalloped look.
The Common Bonnet Gills
The gills of the common bonnet are widely spaced and start out white in color. As they age, they become pinker. The gills and the stem are attached, though some of the gills can be short. One distinguishing feature of the mushroom is that the gills can have veins or small gills that go across them.
The common bonnet mushroom can look a bit like a drink umbrella because of the relatively large gills.
The Common Bonnet Stem
The stems of common bonnet mushrooms range in height from around 1.2 to 4 inches. They are hollow and hairless with a lighter color toward the cap and a darker color toward the base. At the base of the stem, white mycelium can be found.
Where can Common Bonnet Mushrooms be Found?
Common bonnet mushrooms can be found in a number of different countries and are relatively common. They can occur in groups and are saprophytic with hardwood. Sometimes the hardwood they grow from is buried, giving the appearance that the mushroom grows from the ground. A similar looking mushroom is Mycena inclinata.
If you liked learning about common bonnet mushrooms, check out our other Mushroom Monday posts on our TrueTreeTalk blog. Follow us on Facebook to keep up with these and other posts.
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