Mycetinis is a genus of fungus in the Omphalotaceae family, containing about eight species formerly classified in Marasmius.
General This group of mushrooms was long known as a section (Alliacei) within the more familiar genus Marasmius, which means that each of the species has a synonym under Marasmius. They are distinguished from other Marasmius by the hymeniform cap skin which consists of smooth cells, with hyphae which do not show a dextrinoid reaction. The species have a characteristic garlic smell.
DNA studies showed that the group is phylogenetically allied more to genus Gymnopus than to Marasmius, but the distinct structure of the cap skin is thought to justify a separation at the genus level. Franklin Sumner Earle had already defined the genus name Mycetinis for this group in 1909, though it had not caught on, and in 2005 Wilson & Desjardin proposed to resurrect this name and redefine it for the current taxonomy. The new phylogenetic classification also means that the group belongs to family Omphalotaceae instead of Marasmiaceae.
A new species, M. curraniae, was described in 2012.
Species Image Name Notes Distribution Mycetinis alliaceus Type species Europe Mycetinis applanatipes California Mycetinis cinnamomeus S. Australia Mycetinis copelandii California Mycetinis curraniae New Zealand (Mycetinis epidryas) Synonym of Rhizomarasmius epidryas Arctic (Europe, Canada & Alaska) or alpine Mycetinis kallioneus Arctic (Greenland & Svarlbard) Mycetinis olidus N. America Mycetinis opacus N. America, Japan Mycetinis prasiosmus Scandinavia and continental Europe Mycetinis querceus Europe, N. Africa Mycetinis salalis N. America Mycetinis scorodonius Also has a smaller form "forma diminutivus" found only in Washington state urban environments Mainly Europe, also N. Africa, N. America, Israel Mycetinis virgultorum Mediterranean Mycetinis yunnanensis Yunnan, China
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