The species are small- to medium-sized
agarics with white,
nonamyloid,
spores and decurrent
gills. Typically the
cap of the fruit bodies have a shallow to deep central depression, giving the
umbrella-like to funnel-shaped caps the appearance of a belly button, or a belly with a
navel. At least one species,
G. viridilucens, is
bioluminescent.
Similar species Similarly shaped agarics are said to be
omphalinoid in appearance in reference to a morphologically similar genus,
Omphalina.
Gerronema differ from
Omphalina by the absence of incrusting or intraparietal
pigments typical of
Omphalina, the occasional occurrence of bright colors, such as yellow or green absent in
Omphalina, by the restriction to decay of wood, and by the tough tissues composed of
sarcodimitic hyphae. ==Distribution and habitat==