Microscopic characters

Basidia
The majority of the species in Mycena have 4-spored basidia, but some species are 2-spored. Generally the number of sterigmata at the basidia has little taxonomic value. The size and shape of the basidia is sometimes of taxonomic importance.

Spores
The Spores are usually pip-shaped, less frequently almost cylindrical or spherical, and generally amyloid, more rarely non-amyloid.

Clamp connections
An important feature is whether there are clamp connections at the septa of the hymenial elements.

Cheilocystidia
In the genus Mycena the cheilocystidia are very variously shaped and hence a useful identification character. The cheilocystidia can be clavate, obpyriform, fusiform, lageniform or, more rarely, cylindrical, smooth , branched or with variously shaped, simple or branched excrescences.

Hyphae of the pileipellis
The hyphae of the pileipellis are either smooth or diverticulate, sometimes tending to form dense, corraloid masses. In some species embedded in gelatinous matter.

Hyphae of the cortical layer of the stipe
The hyphae are either smooth or diverticulate. In some species there are well defined terminal cells, and in some of these species the terminal cells constitute caulocystidia (e. g. Mycena leptocephala).

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© Arne Aronsen 2002-2015