Small brown mushrooms on wood with cinnamon-brown spore print. The common Galerina patagonica has a distinctive small point in the centre of the cap, develops in groups on large pieces of fallen wood, and has a well-developed ring on the stalk.

There are several species in New Zealand, with only Galerina patagonica (widespread in the Southern Hemisphere) common.

Hypholoma acutum is similar in shape, also develops in clusters on fallen wood, but lacks a ring on the stalk and has a greenish tinge to the gills.

Small but quite robust mushrooms on fallen wood and soil. G. patagonica, characterised by the small, pointed centre to its cap, is quite common on wood in forests. The genus includes some of the most poisonous mushrooms in New Zealand.

Seven species, some undescribed, have been reported from New Zealand, only those listed below have descriptions or images available from NZFungi.

Pileus regular, thin, often striate, margin straight and pressed to the stem when young; gills adnate, becoming almost free during expansion; stem central; spores rusty-ochre.

Most closely allied to Naucoria, but distinguished by the thin pileus, having the pileus straight when young. Corresponds in structure with Mycena and Nolanea. Growing on the ground.