Gray shag is recognized for its distinctive gray and shaggy appearance as it begins to mature. It typically thrives on scattered organic matter, such as decomposing wood. A fascinating life cycle characterizes gray shag, where it rapidly evolves from a young, rounded cap to a mature, umbrella-like form before eventually liquefying as part of its spore dispersion process.
Cap Diameter:
5 - 20 mm
Odor:
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
In This Article
Attributes
Similar Species
Tips for Finding
Clean and Preserve
Common Questions
General Info About Gray shag
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Attributes of Gray shag
Cap Diameter
5 - 20 mm
Height
5 - 15 mm
Cap
Cap 5 - 20 mm in diameter; conical to campanulate; grayish-brown or brown, margin grey; covered with white hairs when young, becoming glabrous with age
Cap Shape
Depressed, Central Bump
Cap Surfaces
Fibrillose-scaly
Gills
Free; crowded, narrow; white or grey then becoming black in age
Gill Attachment
Free
Stem
Stem 5 - 15 mm tall x 3 - 10 mm; tapering downwards with a rooting base in the ground; white; fibrillose
Stem Shapes
Cylindrical
Stem Cross Sections
Hollow or cottony hollow
Flesh
Thin; fragile
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
Black
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive.
Body Color
Brown
Gray
White
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
