The mica cap is a common spring mushroom. It’s also found in later months, but seems to be more prevalent in spring. Perhaps because they are a small mushroom and become difficult to spot once the greener growths of spring get tall enough for them to hide behind. When they first emerge they can have a fine layer of granules on the cap giving them an almost sparkling appearance, hence the name mica cap. However, any small rain or winds can remove the evidence of the fine granules. You will find them at the base of dying trees, or tree stumps, where they will emerge, usually in large numbers, grow quickly, and then the caps will quickly deliquesce into a black liquid, leaving only the thin white stem behind.
