Asterophora parasitica

20 October 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin

Species

Synonyms

Nyctalis parasitica

Cap

Bell shaped, whitish, sometimes with lilac or brown, surface silky, to about 1.5 cm across

Gills

Initially brownish, becoming white with chlamydospores

Stem

Often rather twisted, +/- equal, whitish

Flesh

Thin, brown

Smell

Indistinct

Taste

Indistinct

Season

Summer to winter

Distribution

Infrequent

Habitat

On rotting Russula species, favouring R. nigricans, but also on R. fellea, R. foetens and R. densifolia. According to some sources the fungus also grows on some Lactarius species.

Microscopic Features

Spores ovoid, smooth (5-5.5) x (3-4) µm². Chlamydospores ovoid (14-15) x (9-11) µm². Note that both kinds of spores form on the gills.

Edibility

Unknown

Notes

Take care not to confuse with young specimens of Asterophora lycoperdoides

Additional Photographs

20 October 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin