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).
Back to diagnostic characters.
|