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Marasmius
 
 
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There are about 300 species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of agarics
Agaricales

The order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The Order has about 4,000 identified species, or one quarter of all known Agaricomycetes....
 in the genus Marasmius (family Marasmiaceae
Marasmiaceae

The Marasmiaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi which have white spores. They mostly have a tough stipe and the capability of shrivelling up during a dry period and later recovering....
), of which a few, such as Marasmius oreades
Marasmius oreades

Marasmius oreades is also known as the scotch bonnet or fairy ring mushroom. The latter name tends to cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grown in fairy rings ....
, are edible. However, most members of this genus are small, nondescript brown mushrooms. Their small size and unimpressive appearance mean they are often not readily distinguishable to non-specialists, and they are therefore seldom collected by mushroom hunters. Several of the species are known to grow in the characteristic Fairy Ring
Fairy ring

A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow over ten meters in diameter and become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground....
 pattern.

The author of the genus was Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries

Elias Magnus Fries was a Sweden mycologist and botanist born at Femsj? in Sm?land....
, who in 1838 classified white-spored agarics having a tough central stipe in this taxon if they were marcescent
Marcescence

Marcescence is the retention of dead plant organs that normally are shed. It is most obvious in deciduous trees that retain leaves through the winter....
, i.e.






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There are about 300 species
Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
 of agarics
Agaricales

The order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The Order has about 4,000 identified species, or one quarter of all known Agaricomycetes....
 in the genus Marasmius (family Marasmiaceae
Marasmiaceae

The Marasmiaceae are a family of basidiomycete fungi which have white spores. They mostly have a tough stipe and the capability of shrivelling up during a dry period and later recovering....
), of which a few, such as Marasmius oreades
Marasmius oreades

Marasmius oreades is also known as the scotch bonnet or fairy ring mushroom. The latter name tends to cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grown in fairy rings ....
, are edible. However, most members of this genus are small, nondescript brown mushrooms. Their small size and unimpressive appearance mean they are often not readily distinguishable to non-specialists, and they are therefore seldom collected by mushroom hunters. Several of the species are known to grow in the characteristic Fairy Ring
Fairy ring

A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow over ten meters in diameter and become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground....
 pattern.

The author of the genus was Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries

Elias Magnus Fries was a Sweden mycologist and botanist born at Femsj? in Sm?land....
, who in 1838 classified white-spored agarics having a tough central stipe in this taxon if they were marcescent
Marcescence

Marcescence is the retention of dead plant organs that normally are shed. It is most obvious in deciduous trees that retain leaves through the winter....
, i.e. they could dry out, but later revive when moistened.

For Fries, marcescence (by contrast with the "putrescent" nature of most mushrooms) was an important character for classification, which he used to separate this group from genus Collybia (which has now been split into many newer genera). The name Marasmius itself comes from a Greek word Marasmos, meaning "drying out". Modern mycologists no longer consider the marcescence/putrescence distinction a reliable criterion for taxonomy, but Fries's definition of the genus is still roughly applicable.

The listing below is by no means complete, but represents some of the better-known members of the genus.

  • Marasmius alliaceus
    Marasmius alliaceus

    Marasmius alliaceus is one of the larger mushrooms of the Marasmius genus, having a beige pileus of up to 4 cm and a long tough slender stipe ....
  • Marasmius cohaerens
  • Marasmius delectans
  • Marasmius nigripes
  • Marasmius oreades
    Marasmius oreades

    Marasmius oreades is also known as the scotch bonnet or fairy ring mushroom. The latter name tends to cause some confusion, as many other mushrooms grown in fairy rings ....
     - the fairy ring mushroom
  • Marasmius pulcherripes
  • Marasmius pyrrhocephalus
  • Marasmius rotula
  • Marasmius siccus
  • Marasmius strictipes
  • Marasmius sullivantii


See also

  • Mushroom hunting
    Mushroom hunting

    Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking and similar terms describe the activity of hunter-gatherer mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating....
  • Mushroom poisoning
    Mushroom poisoning

    Mushroom poisoning, also known as mycetism, refers to deleterious effects from ingestion of toxic substances present in a mushroom. These symptoms can vary from slight Gastrointestinal tract discomfort to death....