Hypomyces lactifluorum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lobster mushroom | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Hypocreales |
| Family: | Hypocreaceae |
| Genus: | Hypomyces |
| Species: | H. lactifluorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypomyces lactifluorum (Schwein.) Tul. & C.Tul. | |
Lobster mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum) is not a mushroom, but rather a parasitic ascomycete that grows on mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster. It colonizes members of the genera Lactarius (Milk-caps) and Russula, such as Russula brevipes and Lactarius piperatus in North America. At maturity, H. lactifluorum thoroughly covers its host, rendering it unidentifiable. Lobster mushrooms are widely eaten and enjoyed; they are commercially marketed and are commonly found in some large grocery stores. They have a seafood-like flavor and a firm, dense texture. According to some, they may taste somewhat spicy if the host mushroom is an acrid Lactarius.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hypomyces lactifluorum. |
- A lobster mushroom article on Tom's Fungi
- AmericanMushrooms.com: Lobster Mushroom
- Lobster mushroom on mykoweb
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