Species

Hypomyces lactifluorum (Lobster mushroom)

Hypomyces lactifluorum. Photo: (c) Jeff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist • Wikipedia

The Lobster mushroom, Hypomyces lactifluorum, contrary to its common name, is not a mushroom, but rather a parasitic ascomycete fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster. H. lactifluorum specifically attacks members of the genera Lactarius and Lactifluus (milk-caps), and Russula (brittlegills), such as Russula brevipes and Lactifluus piperatus in North America. At maturity, H. lactifluorum thoroughly covers its host, rendering…

Humboldt Life
- Kingdom: Fungi (Fungi including lichens)
  - Phylum: Ascomycota (Ascomycete fungi)
    - Subphylum: Pezizomycotina (Higher ascomycetes)
      - Class: Sordariomycetes
        Subclass: Hypocreomycetidae
        Order: Hypocreales
        Family: Hypocreaceae
        Genus: Hypomyces
        Species: Hypomyces lactifluorum (Lobster mushroom)

Sightings

Where in Humboldt

Discussion

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