How to identify Little Wheel Mushroom

To correctly identify Little Wheel Mushroom (Marasmius rotula), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   The cap is small (typically 2-8 mm in diameter), convex to flattened, and translucent. It is white to cream-colored with radial striations, giving it a somewhat pleated appearance.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   The gills are widely spaced, adnexed to free, and have a distinctive wheel-like arrangement. They are white and relatively thick for the size of the mushroom.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   The stem is thin, wiry, and hollow. It is typically white to cream-colored and has a smooth surface.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is very thin and insubstantial.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Small, delicate, and white with a translucent cap and widely spaced gills.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Found on decaying leaves, twigs, and other forest debris in moist, wooded areas.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Striated, Translucent

Growth Form

Saprophytic

Spore Print

White

Body color

White to Cream

Odor

Not distinctive

Flesh bruises

No bruising reaction

Height

1-3 cm

Cap Diameter

2-8 mm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Free
• Stem shape: Thread-like
• Stem surface: Smooth
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Hollow

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