| Bolete eater | |
|---|---|
| H. chrysospermus infecting a Leccinum bolete | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Hypocreales |
| Family: | Hypocreaceae |
| Genus: | Hypomyces |
| Species: | H. chrysospermus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypomyces chrysospermus Tul. & C.Tul. (1860) |
|
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Hypolyssus chrysospermus (Tul. & C.Tul.) Kuntze (1898) |
|
The bolete eater (Hypomyces chrysospermus) is a parasitic ascomycete that grows on boletes, turning them a whitish, golden yellow, or tan color. It is found in Europe and North America, as well as southwest Western Australia. Unlike the related Hypomyces lactifluorum, it is inedible.
Contents |
Hypomyces chrysospermus was first described by French mycologists, brothers Louis René and Charles Tulasne in 1860. The specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek chryse- "golden", and sperma "seed".[2] Common names include bolete eater,[3] and bolete mould.[4]
The bolete eater belongs to a genus of parasitic ascomycetes, each of which infects differing species of fungi. For example, H. lactifluorum attacks mushrooms of the Russulaceae family, H. copletus and H. transformans infect Suillus species, H. melanocarpus prefers Tylopilus species, while other Hypomyces have a much broader host range.[5]
The bolete eater infects boletes, initially with a thin whitish layer which then becomes golden and finally a reddish brown pimpled appearance. The bolete's flesh softens and is putrescent by the third stage. Single or multiple boletes may be infected, members of Paxillus and Rhizopogon are also attacked.[3]
The spores are oval-shaped and smooth in the white stage and measure 10–30 by 5–12 μm, and are warty, round and thicker-walled in the yellow stage and are 10–25 μm in diameter. These two stages are asexual, while the final stage is sexual; here the spores are spindle-shaped and measure 25–30 by 5–6 μm.[3]
Hypomyces chrysospermus is found in North America,[3] and Europe, where it is common.[4] It is common in the southwest of Western Australia, where it is found in forest and coastal plant communities.[6]
It is not edible and may be poisonous.[3][4]