Cinnabar Powdercap
Formerly known as Cystoderma terreyi, This small saprobe is widely distributed in North America though not as often encountered as some of the others in the genus or the related Cystorerma genus. It is most often found in mossy areas under conifers, but sometimes under hardwoods. It may be solitary or found in small groups. It decays needle duff or other forest floor debris. The caps are redder or more reddish orange than caps of lookalike species such as C. granulosa which most often has brownish or orange-brownish coloration. Caps are covered with a distinctive granulation, and may reach as much as 6 cm across. They are typically convex but flatten out as they age. There may be velar tissue at the margins. The gills are close and whitish or sometimes pale yellowish. They are attached but often pull away with maturity. They are initially covered with a flimsy veil that leaves a whitish ring zone on the stipe. Above it the stipe is smooth, dry and white but below it is covered in scales that are a rusty brownish or cinnabar color. The stipes may reach 6 cm tall and 1.5 cm across. The flesh is white. There is no distinct odor and the taste is mild. Microscopy may be needed to separate it from lookalikes, with spores being small, elliptical and inamyloid and cheilocystidia being present. It is not known to be edible.