Cruentomycena viscidocruenta (Ruby Mycena)

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The fruit bodies are mushrooms with caps atop central stems. The caps are up to 2 centimetres in diameter (but often with a diameter of about one centimetre or less), strikingly blood red and viscid (though this viscidity may disappear in dry conditions). The stem (1-4 centimetres long) is a similar blood red and is glutinous (e.g. see: http://www.cpbr.gov.au/fungi/images-captions/mycena-viscidocruenta-243.html) but in dry conditions this glutinous coating may dry out and not be visible. The gills are a little paler than stem and cap.

There is neither a partial nor universal veil.

Spore print: white.

The species is found on twig or leaf litter in forests (from moist gullies to dry sclerophyll), parks and suburban gardens.

The original description (under the name Mycena coccinea) was published in 1919, based on specimens collected in NSW. There was a name change to Mycena viscidocruenta in 1924 and in 2008 this species became the type of the new genus Cruentomycena.

Look-alikes: Some species of Hygrocybe have small red caps, but species of Hygrocybe grow on soil, not on twig or leaf litter.

Cruentomycena viscidocruenta is listed in the following regions:

Canberra & Southern Tablelands | South Coast