Hypomyces chrysospermus
Hypomyces chrysospermus | |
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Hypomyces chrysospermus infecting a Leccinum bolete | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Sordariomycetes |
Order: | Hypocreales |
Family: | Hypocreaceae |
Genus: | Hypomyces |
Species: | H. chrysospermus
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Binomial name | |
Hypomyces chrysospermus Tul. & C.Tul. (1860) | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Hypomyces chrysospermus, the bolete eater, is a parasitic
Bolete eater and its afflicted host mushrooms are not edible and may be poisonous.
Taxonomy
Hypomyces chrysospermus was first described by French mycologists, brothers
The bolete eater belongs to a genus of parasitic ascomycetes, each of which infects differing genera of fungi. For example, H. lactifluorum attacks mushrooms of the family Russulaceae, H. copletus and H. transformans infect Suillus species, H. melanocarpus prefers Tylopilus species, while other Hypomyces have a much broader host range.[5]
Description
The bolete eater infects boletes, initially with a thin whitish layer which then becomes golden and finally a reddish-brown pimpled appearance. The bolete's flesh softens and is putrescent by the third stage. Single or multiple boletes may be infected, members of Paxillus and Rhizopogon are also attacked.[3]
The
Similar species
The related lobster mushroom, H. lactifluorum, is edible. Several species of the genus may be indistinguishable without microscopy.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Hypomyces chrysospermus is found in North America,[3] and Europe, where it is common.[4] It is common in the southwest of Western Australia, where it is found in forest and coastal plant communities.[7] It is also found in the Eastern Chinese provinces of Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Fujian.[2]
Human uses
H. chrysospermus is not edible and may be poisonous.
References
- ^ "Hypomyces chrysospermus Tul. & C. Tul. 1860". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ ISBN 9787030001955.
- ^ ISBN 0-89815-169-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
- PMID 15000236.
- ISBN 978-0-593-31998-7.
- ISBN 0-7307-5528-2.