Hypomyces chrysospermus

[ Ascomycetes > Hypocreales > Hypocreaceae > Hypomyces . . . ]

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).

Despite the fact that it parasitizes some edible mushrooms, Hypomyces chrysospermus is not edible, and any bolete in your basket that has been attacked by the fungus should be discarded.

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.

© MushroomExpert.Com

Cite this page as:

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