Summary:
Section Subincarnatae (Smith), Section Polyadelphia (Maas Geesteranus). Mycena culmigena is characterized by very small size, a dull pale wine color, growth on sedges and rushes, and its spores. Mycena juncicola (Fr.) Gillet is a different distinct species according to Maas Geesteranus which in his concept includes Mycena cariciophila Redhead found in New Brunswick. The description is derived from Maas Geesteranus(1) except where noted.

Cap:
up to 0.3cm across, conic to convex, with or without small, acute umbo, "finally apically flattened to more or less depressed"; grayish vinaceous or with a purple tinge, paler to whitish at the margin; sulcate [grooved], not or little translucent-striate, minutely puberulous [downy] at first

Flesh:
very thin, fragile

Gills:
broadly adnate, decurrent with a tooth, ascending, 8-10 reaching stem, narrow (less than 0.05cm dry); pale grayish vinaceous, with grayish to whitish edge

Stem:
0.3-1cm x 0.01-0.02cm, equal, fragile, arising from an inconspicuous flat disc up to 0.1cm across; watery grayish white to grayish vinaceous, the disc vinaceous to brownish; pruinose in upper part, bald lower down

Odor:
not distinctive

Taste:
not distinctive

Microscopic spores:
spores 9.4-12.1 x 4.6-5.4 microns, pip-shaped (broadly elliptic) to somewhat elongated, smooth, weakly amyloid; basidia 4-spored, 21.5-24 x 7.5-9 microns, clavate, clamped; pleurocystidia absent, cheilocystidia "forming a sterile band (lamellar edge homogeneous), 22-27 x 8-14.5 microns, obpyriform to clavate, regularly and symmetrically shaped, clamped (but clamps in later stages often difficult to demonstrate), fairly evenly covered with cylindrical, usually straight, simple or, less frequently, branched excrescences 1.8-8 x 0.9-1.5 microns"

Spore deposit:
[presumably white]

Notes:
Mycena culmigena is found at least in OR (type), WA, BC, (Redhead(8)).

EDIBILITY

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Mycena juncicola (Fr.) Gillet sensu A.H. Sm.