Let’s take a close look at these guys! They are called Brick caps because of the color. The margins tend to be lighter, and sometimes have white tufts of fiber remaining from the partial veil.
They grow in clusters from decaying hardwoods. The stipe is lighter above and more reddish below, and often twisted because of its clustered growth. Sometimes you can find a ring zone, and I often find them with a little bit of white shagginess on the lower stem, although I don’t know if that is something consistent. The gills are initially white, but turn a nice purple greyish color.
The jury is out on whether or not Brick caps are edible. Tempting as they are, since it’s usually pretty slim pickings in the fall/winter when these guys are around, I’d say they’re probably not worth it—they’re reputed to be quite bitter. (Another reason not to eat them is they’re pretty similar to the poisonous Sulphur Tuft mushroom, which is closely related and only differs in being a shade more yellow/green as opposed to brickish red).
recycled paper clips 