Created: 2008-11-30 21:03:39
By: Douglas Smith (douglas)
Summary: Gymnopilus can be small.

There are a large number of species of Gymnopilus that are small, and can be found to be only 1 cm in size. Also many, if not most, species of Galerina do not have an annulus, and most that do have one, it isn’t very persistant. Those aren’t good features to decide on a genus.

Arora is not a good source to decide on Galerina species, and not that good a source for Gymnopilus…

Just one look at the spores here would probably get you genus a lot faster than this discussion…

Created: 2008-11-30 11:54:13
By: Daniel B. Wheeler (Tuberale)
Summary: Some bark still on trunk

This was growing on Douglas fir. Most moss growing on Douglas fir would be on the bark layer, which is conspicuous by its absence here. As I recall, even the bark remaining on the trunk did not have a noticeable amount of moss.

Created: 2008-11-30 11:50:33
By: Daniel B. Wheeler (Tuberale)
Summary: No brown on cap.

According to Arora, there should be some form of brown on Gymnopilus, so that probably rules out this observation. In addition, most Gymnopilus are medium to largish mushrooms, and this is, at most, 3cm across the cap, not at all large. Still checking on the other possibilities you mention, because Galerina should have a more obvious annulus than these do.

Created: 2008-11-29 17:23:03
By: Darvin DeShazer (darv)
Summary: Gymnopilus

I would start with Gymnopilus on these. That is my first gut reaction.

Created: 2008-11-29 16:19:42
By: Douglas Smith (douglas)
Summary: These are fairly uncertain…

It is uncertain what these might be, although they are certainly not G. hypnorum (although in detail it is confused as to what is G. hypnorum…). The species G. hypnorum, in any case macroscopically, is on moss covered logs mostly, where the moss is important here, also the cap is thin conical and striate. These are on a log with no moss, not conical, not striate, and I’m not sure if they are hygrophanous (another character). So, with this lack of those characters, I’m not sure they are Galerina, and could also be Tubaria and even one of the really small Gymnopilus (and maybe even something else…).