The following artificial dichotomous key (from Mycologia 88(2): 278-294. 1996.) is designed to aid in the identification of Galerina species occuring in the Hawaiian Islands. Ecological features presented in the key may not apply elsewhere in the geographical range of the species.
1. Hymenial cystidia and caulocystidia metuloids, often crystal-incrusted (like in Inocybe ); basidia 2-spored; stipe base dark brown and covered with white pubescence............... Galerina nana
1. Hymenial cystidia and caulocystidia thin-walled, lacking crystal incrustations............... 2
2. Basidiomata associated with Sphagnum in montane bogs; stipe with a well developed white partial veil that remains as a superior annular zone and as scattered fibrillose patches below; pleurocystidia, pileocystidia, and caulocystidia absent............... Galerina paludosa
2. Basidiomata not associated with Sphagnum bogs and not with the above combination of characters............... 3
3. Basidiospores in the range 8.1-13.0 X 5.0-7.0 µm (mean > 9.0 X 5.0 µm); growing in native montane ohi'a forests associated with endemic trees............... 4
3. Basidiospores in the range 6.5-9.0 X 4.0-5.0 µm (mean < 8.5 X 5.0 µm); growing in alien forests associated with exotic trees............... 6
4. Basidia 2-spored, pleurocystidia common, fusoid ventricose with elongated neck; stipe pruinose to hispidulous overall; basidiospores 10.5-12.5 X 6.5-7.5 µm (mean = 11.6 X 7.0 µm)............... Galerina atkinsoniana
4. Basidia 4-spored; pleurocystidia absent; stipe apex pruinose, base glabrous; basidiospores < 6.5 µm wide............... 5
5. Cheilocystidia tibiiform, capitulum 5.5-9.0 µm diam; basidiospores 11.0-13.5 X 5.5-6.5 µm (mean = 12.4 X 6.0 µm); pileocystidia common overall, often subcapitate; pileus surface suede-like to subfibrillose overall............... Galerina ohiarum
5. Cheilocystidia lageniform to fusoid-ventricose, typically noncapitate (rarely capitate); basidiospores 8.0-10.5 X 5.0-6.0 µm (mean = 9.4 X 5.5 µm); pileocystidia common only on pileus margin, noncapitate; pileus surface glabrous over disc, pruinose on margin............... Galerina decipiens
6. Stipe of mature basidiomata with a persistent superior zone of partial veil fibrils; pileus broadly campanulate at maturity, nonstriate; pileocystidia absent; cheilocystidia clavate to vesiculose, 8.0-14.5 µm diam; pleurocystidia lageniform, 64-80 X 11-15(-20) µm............... Galerina physospora
6. Stipe of mature basidiomata lacking partial veil fibrils; pileus cuspidate and often depressed at maturity, sulcate; pileocystidia common, filamentous; cheilocystidia cylindric to clavate, 3.0-6.5 µm diam; pleurocystidia fusoid with elongated neck, 65-100 X 9.0-13.5 µm............... Galerina velutipes
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