Gymnopus acervatus

Scientific name:  Gymnopus acervatus (Fr.) Murrill
Derivation of name:  Acerv- means a "heap" perhaps in reference
to the dense clusters this fungus forms on wood.
Synonyms:  Collybia acervata (Fr.) P. Kumm.
Common name(s):  Clustered Collybia.
Phylum:   Basidiomycota
Order:   Agaricales
Family:   Tricholomataceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; forming dense clusters
on decaying coniferous logs and branches or from buried wood;
July through October.  
Dimensions: Caps 2-5 cm wide; stipes 3-10 cm long and 2-6 mm
thick.    
Cap: Smooth; dry to moist; reddish-brown at first, fading to pale
grayish tan.        
Gills: Attached or nearly free; whitish with a pinkish tinge.  
Spore print: White.
Stipe: Dry; smooth; reddish-brown with dense white mycelium at the
base.
Veil: Absent.
Edibility: Unknown.
Comments: Now that Collybia is Gymnopus, should we give this
the common name Clustered Gymnopus? Or, perhaps we should
just learn the scientific name.
 
More information at NYBG:   

    
Figure 1. A faded cluster of Gymnopus acervatus.
Photo © Steve Nelsen.

Figure 2. A cluster with a little more color in the
caps. Photo © Steve Nelsen.