Leaf Parachute

Marasmius epiphyllus

On fallen tree leaves, especially their petioles and veins, and on grass stems. Summer, autumn.

Fruiting bodies tiny, delicate. Cap 0.5-1 cm across, flattened, leathery, wrinkled, whitish, cream. Gills very narrow, branched-vein-like, thick, adnate, whitish. Stem up to 3 cm long, thread-like, brownish, white near the gills. Flesh very thin, membranous, without any particular smell or taste. Characteristic features: white, cream, delicate fruiting bodies growing on fallen leaves, especially their veins and petioles. Fairly common. A valuable litter saprotroph. Very similar is the aspen parachute (M. tremulae), but it grows only on aspen leaves and is also not rare. Inedible.