The Pale Brittlestem is a decomposer that can be found in the spring through fall. It can be found in lawns, mulch, and forests where it decomposes dead trees and their root systems. Widely distributed and common.

The cap is brittle and is colored yellowish to tan when young, generally becoming lighter and whiter with age. The shape is evenly rounded becoming broadly conical with age, almost like a large umbrella. The gills are slightly attached (adnexed) and are white when young becoming grayish-pink then brownish-black with age. The stem is hollow and brittle. The spores are brownish-black.

June 15th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

Growing among woodland duff next to small fallen hardwood tree (maybe elm) in open mixed oak woodland. Gills close and shallow. Stipe white, hallow with white squamules. Hygrophanous cap with slightly in-rolled margin. Rhizomorphs present.

July 6th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

Growing solo out from under hardwood log (potentially Bur Oak) in mixed oak/hickory woodland near edge.

Partial veil remnants on cap margin. Margin striated almost to the center. Stipe bruising dull orange where damaged.

KOH: gray then turning slightly blue on pileipellis Ammonia: faintly pink of pileipellis.

Smell indistinctive. Taste pleasant to indistinctive.

Additional specimen in last photo was found later and added to collection

August 9th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

Growing gregariously in low, moist, shady woodland draw among grasses (American Beak Grain) and duff.

• Cap light tan, conical to bell-shaped with delicate partial veil remnants attached at margin.
• Gills adnext, crowded, and shallow.
• Stipe fibrulose, brittle, and hollow.
• Spore Print: brown

August 18th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

Growing solitarily on fallen American Hackberry branch on East-facing shaded, moist transitional zone between mixed oak/hickory and riparian woodlands.

• Cap tannish brown and hygrophanous with veil remnants on margin.
• Stipe hollow with annular zone.

August 18th, 2023 Field Notes - Indian Cave State Park

Growing solitarily and clustered on steep slope under large fallen American Linden tree in mixed oak/hickory woodland draw.

• Caps tan becoming lighter towards margin, with scaly tissues and splitting margin.
• Lamellae close, adnexed to free, dull purple.
• Stipe fibrulose, wavy, and hollow with a bulbus base.