Pinwheel mushroom
Marasmius rotula
A species of Marasmius. Also known as Little wheel, Collared parachute.
The delicate, miniature pinwheel mushroom (Marasmius rotula) is a common sight throughout eastern North America. Its widely and uniformly spaced gills on the underside give it a charming, almost playful pinwheel-like look. Though fragile in appearance, these mushrooms are remarkable for their ability to rehydrate and come back to life even after quickly drying out, provided they absorb enough moisture.
In This Article
Attributes of Pinwheel mushroom
Cap Diameter
5 - 15 mm
Height
2 - 9 cm
Cap
Cap 5 - 20 mm; hemispherical, broadly convex; brown, white; bald, dry
Cap Shape
Convex, Depressed, Flat
Cap Surfaces
Smooth, Visible lines or stripes
Gills
Adnate; distant; white to yellowish white
Gill Attachment
Attached
Stem
Stem 1.5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2 mm thick; equal; pale, brown, black; dry, smooth; base sometimes with stiff hairs
Stem Shapes
Cylindrical
Stem Surfaces
Smooth
Flesh
Thin
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
White
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
BrownBlackWhitePurple
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Solitary, Gregarious
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
Dead Woods
You can find Pinwheel mushroom by these plants
European beech, Oaks
Occurence Habitats
Deciduous Woodland
Species Status
Widely distributed
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Pinwheel mushroom
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
Marasmiaceae
Genus
Marasmius
Toxicity and Edibility of Pinwheel mushroom
Is Pinwheel mushroom Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
