Fauna
Fungus

Bleeding Bonnet

Mycena sanguinolenta

Also known as Smaller Bleeding Mycena, Terrestrial Bleeding Mycena

Bleeding bonnets are delicate saprotrophic fungi easily recognized by the dark reddish-purple juice that oozes from injured stems or gill margins. Their slender, bell-shaped caps sprout from damp moss and conifer needle litter across temperate woodlands, actively breaking down decaying plant matter. In pitch-black conditions, dense mycelial colonies emit a faint bioluminescent glow fueled by natural enzymatic reactions.

SaprobicBioluminescentWoodland
Bleeding Bonnet reference1 / 7
(c) Sharon Squazzo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sharon Squazzo · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDecomposer (saprotrophic on needle duff, leaf litter, and moss)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Springtails
ThreatsHabitat destruction, intensive forest clearing, and severe ground fires
HabitatsConiferous, deciduous, and mixed temperate forests, mossy banks, and heathlands
Life spanFruiting bodies last 3–7 days; mycelium persists for years
Classification
  1. FamilyMycenaceae
  2. SpeciesMycena sanguinolenta
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Use a hand lens to study the tiny, lined bell caps without dislodging the fragile stem from the moss.
  • Photography: Diffused morning light best captures the subtle reddish-purple tones along the cap striations.
  • Habitat Etiquette: Walk carefully along forest paths to avoid trampling the shallow moss mats where fruiting bodies emerge.
Related species
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