Mycena
/maɪˈsiːnə/noun
A genus of small mushrooms, many of them delicate and bioluminescent.
Did you know?Mycena is named after Mycenae, the legendary Bronze Age Greek city tied to kings, graves, and mythic power — so even a tiny mushroom carries a name soaked in ancient prestige.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μυκήνη (Mukḗnē)
“Mycenae, the ancient Greek city”
New Latin
Latin
Mycena
“A Latinized genus name derived from Mycenae”
18th Century
Latin
Mycena
“Scientific genus name for a group of mushrooms”
Modern English
English
Mycena
“A genus of small mushrooms”