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The Genus Cystoderma

[ Basidiomycetes > Agaricales > Tricholomataceae . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Cystoderma is a fairly small genus of white-spored, saprobic gilled mushrooms, easily recognized by a combination of features:

  • A white spore print;
  • Gills that are attached to the stem;
  • A cap and stem that are densely covered (at least when young) with powdery granules that are easily rubbed off;
  • A partial veil that becomes a sturdy or ephemeral ring on the stem;
  • A pileipellis with inflated, chained-together terminal elements;
  • Elliptical, smooth spores that are either amyloid or inamyloid, but never dextrinoid.
 

Cystoderma cinnabarinum

Cystoderma amianthinum


The microscopic characters are usually not needed to successfully determine you are looking at a Cystoderma, since the granulated coating is so distinctive. Mushrooms in a few brown-spored genera can look very similar, but a spore print eliminates confusion handily. Some species of Lepiota--particularly those in the deadly Lepiota josserandii complex--can appear superficially similar, but have free gills and differ on microscopic features.

Mushrooms in this genus flourish in northern Europe, where much of the recent Cystoderma research originates. In North America, Cystoderma species are fairly widely distributed in northern and montane areas and, sometimes, elsewhere. While not rare, they are not exactly prolific, either.



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Cystoderma amianthinum:  Usually under conifers, often in moss; cap yellowish brown to yellowish, 2-5 cm; spores 4-7 µ long, amyloid; cystidia absent.

Cystoderma cinnabarinum:  Usually under conifers; cap cinnabar red to orange, 3-8 cm; spores 4-5 µ long, inamyloid; cheilocystidia present.

Cystoderma granulosum:  On disturbed ground or in moss under hardwoods or conifers; cap brown to reddish brown or orange-brown, 1-5 cm; spores 3.5-5 µ long, inamyloid; cystidia absent.

Cystoderma jasonis:  Usually under conifers, often in moss; cap yellowish brown, 2-5 cm; spores 6-8 µ long, amyloid; cystidia absent.



References

Franco-Molano, A. E. (1993). Studies on Cystoderma: A new species and a new combination. Mycologia 85: 672-676.

Harmaja, H. (1979). Studies in the genus Cystoderma. Karstenia 19: 25-29.

Moser, M. (1983). Keys to Agarics and Boleti (Polyporales, Boletales, Agaricales, Russulales). Ed. Kibby, G. Transl. Plant, S. London: Roger Phillips. 535 pp.

Smith, A. H. & Singer, R. (1945). A monograph on the genus Cystoderma. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science 30: 71-124.



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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2007, February). The genus Cystoderma. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/cystoderma.html

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