Hypomyces chrysospermus

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by Michael Kuo

This "bolete mold" is widely distributed in North America (and the world, for that matter); many mushroom hunters in search of edible boletes have found Hypomyces chrysospermus attacking their quarry. The fungus begins on the mushroom's pore surface as a white, powdery mold, but it quickly spreads across the mushroom, sometimes engulfing it entirely and distorting it into something nearly unrecognizable. When mature, Hypomyces chrysospermus turns from white to golden yellow--and eventually becomes reddish brown (though neither the mushroom nor the mold is very often seen in this last stage, since decay has set in).

Description:

Ecology: Parasitic on various species of boletes, which have diverse habitats; widely distributed and very common.

Fruit Body: A powdery, mold-like covering that is at first white, then golden yellow, and finally reddish brown.

Microscopic Features: Spores vary between development stages. In white stage 10-30 x 5-12 µ, elliptical, smooth; in yellow stage 10-25 µ, round, warty; in final stage 25-30 x 5-6 µ, spindle-shaped, septate (with a separating wall). Asci 110-150 x 6.5-9 µ.

REFERENCES: Tulasne, 1860. (Arora, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Horn, Kay & Abel, 1993; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; USDA, 2006.)

Further Online Information:

Hypomyces chrysospermus at MykoWeb
Hypomyces chrysospermus at Roger's Mushrooms

A pair of parasites: Hypomyces chrysospermus attacking Boletus parasiticus attacking Scleroderma citrinum.

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2004, February). Hypomyces chrysospermus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hypomyces_chrysospermus.html