Marasmius rotula

Common Name: Pinwheel Mushroom

Synonyms: Horse Hair Fungus, Species Fungorum

Substrate: Ground Debris

Location: Hardwood Forests

Spore Color: White

Gill Color: White or Whitish

Comments: 

A fairly common mushroom that likes to fruit in abundance. It should have a thin blackish stem and a cap with deep pleats that forms a pinwheel pattern. Fruits from downed woody debris.

Lookalikes:  

Some authors make the distinction of Marasmius capillaris, which grows on oak leaves, while M. rotula grows from wood. M. rotula also has a flat area on the top of the cap when viewed from the side, while M. caplillaris is more rounded. Marasmius felix grows specifically on Sycamore leaves.

Pictures:

5/24/12 - Winslow Woods - Bloomington, IN

5/29/12 - Winslow Woods - Bloomington, IN

5/24/10 - Brown County State Park - Nashville, IN