This teeny, tiny mushroom is easy to overlook. Oak toughshanks have minute caps and extremely thin stalks - they are small enough to grow directly out of fallen leaves. Their favorite leaf species are those of oaks, but they may be found growing from other deciduous species' leaves as well.
Cap Diameter:
1 - 2 cm
Odor:
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive
In This Article
Attributes
Similar Species
Tips for Finding
Clean and Preserve
Common Questions
General Info About Oak toughshank
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Attributes of Oak toughshank
Cap Diameter
1 - 2 cm
Height
1 - 3 cm
Cap
Cap 2 - 5 mm broad; convex, plane; with a striate from the margin to the disc; light-brown; margin is decurved, often sulcate
Cap Shape
Convex, Flat, Central Bump
Cap Surfaces
Smooth, Visible lines or stripes
Gills
Adnexed; moderately broad; whitish
Gill Attachment
Free to Attached
Stem
1 - 2.5 cm long, less than 1 mm thick; round; darker brown, almost reddish; hair-like; possible darkening when bruising
Stem Shapes
Cylindrical
Stem Cross Sections
Hollow or cottony hollow
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
White, whitish, cream
Odor
Mildly mushroomy but not distinctive
Body Color
Brown
White
Cream
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
The oak toughshank is a woodland mushroom that is closely associated with deciduous trees. It grows on the rotting leaves of oak species and tan-bark oak (Lithocarpus densiflora).
