How to identify Orange Moss Agaric

To correctly identify Orange Moss Agaric (Rickenella fibula), 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.

   Convex to flattened, bright orange, smooth and sometimes translucent when moist.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Decurrent (running down the stem), widely spaced, and pale orange to yellowish.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Thin, wiry, and orange, often darker towards the base. It is typically 1 to 4 cm long and very slender.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   Thin and fragile, with a similar color to the cap.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Small and delicate, typically 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Grows among mosses in damp environments, often in woodlands or grassy areas.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Smooth

Growth Form

Saprophytic

Spore Print

White

Body color

Orange

Odor

Indistinct

Flesh bruises

No bruising

Height

1-4 cm

Cap Diameter

0.5-2 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Decurrent
• Stem shape: Cylindrical
• Stem surface: Smooth
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Solid

Explore Orange Moss Agaric