Hypomyces lactifluorum
Hypomyces lactifluorum
Hypomyces lactifluorum ( syn. Hypolyssus lactifluorum ) is an ascomycete from the family of crustal ball mushroom relatives ( Hypocreaceae ). In the English -speaking world the deformed fruiting bodies due to their lobster -like color and lobster mushrooms (lobster mushrooms ) are called. They are in North America as a commercial mushroom.
- 4.1 edibility
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
Microscopic characteristics
The long cylindrical tubes are an average of 200-260 x 5-10 microns in size. The ascospores measure 35-50 × 4-5 micrometers. They are significantly warty, fusiform and always two-celled. Both the perithecia and the subiculum are stained with potassium hydroxide dark red to black and purple.
Ecology
Hypomyces lactifluorum exclusively attacks White russulas from the section Plorantes, especially the narrow-leaved White Russula ( Russula chloroides, syn. R. brevipes ), and white Milkcaps from the section Albati such as the Long-handled Pepper Milchling ( Lactarius piperatus ). However, some authors question this narrow host specificity.
Dissemination
It is found only in North America, in Canada in the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Iceland and Quebec, in the United States east of the Mississippi and in the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and North Dakota, in Mexico in the provinces of Chiapas, Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Durango, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Morelos, Nuevo León, Puebla and Veracruz and Guatemala.
Feed value
Hypomyces lactifluorum is mainly in Mexico but also appreciated in the U.S. market mushroom. The fruiting bodies uninfested host fungi possess only a moderate feed value in the case of narrow-leaved White Täublings and the Long-handled Pepper Milchling even inedible without special preparation due to the sharp milk. By the infestation their taste and value is considerably increased.