sprucecone cap

Description

Sprucecone cap is a small mushroom with a cap usually 1.5–2.5 cm across, smooth and matt, in colours from greyish ochre to dark brown. Underneath are crowded, whitish to pale grey gills. The stem is thin (1–2 mm), tough, shiny and brownish ochre, paler at the top, and the flesh is odourless and mild in taste.

It grows on spruce cones, often on those partly buried in the litter, usually with a dozen or so fruiting bodies around a single cone. It appears mainly in early spring, from March to June, less often in autumn. In Poland it is common, especially in mountain spruce forests.

It is told apart from similar Strobilurus species mainly by its substrate: pine cones point to a different species, and bitter flesh to Strobilurus tenacellus. If you are not sure of the species, do not pick or eat it.

Identification features

Cap

Diameter 1.5–2.5 cm (exceptionally up to 3.5 cm); shape hemispherical to flattened, sometimes with a low umbo. Margin not inrolled. Surface smooth and matt, sometimes wrinkled in places; colour from greyish ochre through reddish brown to dark brown, occasionally also tawny or blackish brown. When wet, the gills show faintly through the margin. Fruiting bodies developing under snow may be white.

Hymenophore (underside of the cap)

Gills crowded, sinuate (notched), whitish to pale grey.

Stem

Height 3–6 cm, thickness 1–2 mm; stiff, tough, hollow, with remnants of mycelium at the base. Surface shiny, brownish ochre, paler towards the top.

Flesh

Thin, whitish, odourless, with a mild taste. Do not taste the flesh of unknown mushrooms.

Spore print and spores

Spore print white to pale cream. Spores ellipsoid, smooth, non-amyloid, 5–6.5 × 3–4 µm.

Habitat and distribution

Ecology. A saprotroph growing on spruce cones (exceptionally also fir cones) lying in the litter, partly buried or hidden under the soil. Usually a dozen or so fruiting bodies grow around a single cone.

Distribution. Known mainly from Europe, where it is widespread; outside Europe described only from Mexico. In Poland common, especially in mountain spruce forests, but also in other forests, parks and cemeteries, wherever spruces grow. Not legally protected in Poland.

Fruiting. Mainly in spring (March–June), less often in autumn (October–November).

What can it be confused with?

• Strobilurus stephanocystis (Polish: szyszkówka tęporozwierkowa) — Practically indistinguishable morphologically; most easily recognised by its substrate (pine cones). In the hymenium it has broad cystidia with a crown of crystals at the apex.
• Strobilurus tenacellus (Polish: szyszkówka gorzkawa) — Cap surface slightly striate from the gills showing through; grows on pine cones; flesh bitter.
• Mycena strobilicola (Polish: grzybówka wiosenna) — Also appears in spring and on spruce cones, but has a distinct smell of chlorine and a white, brittle stem.
• Baeospora myosura (Polish: pieniążniczka szyszkowa) — Cap pale, flesh-beige, stem dusted with white; grows on pine cones, less often on spruce cones.

Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.

Interesting facts

• It was first described in 1781 by Franz Xaver von Wulfen as Agaricus esculentus.
• In Polish literature it was formerly known as "pieniążek szyszkowy"; the current name was given in 1983 by B. Gumińska and W. Wojewoda.
• Fruiting bodies developing under snow may be white.
• Outside Europe it has been described only from Mexico.