View A43-1112-1979-eng.pdf

EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
dense tomentum and sometimes becoming somewhat scaly, margin notched
and lacerated, irregular, tough and leathery in consistency, stipitate. asci
cylindric, eight-spored, very long 400-600 X 16-18 /x- ascospores ellipsoid,
one-celled, smooth, 25-40 X 1 1-14 /x.
On buried or partly buried wood, probably always hardwood. April-May.
This species is too tough to be edible but the black fruit bodies are hkely
to attract attention.
HYPOMYCES LACTIFLUORUM (Schw.) Tul.
Figure 350, page 235
Fungus growing on mushrooms, producing a stroma, which may entirely
cover the lamellae and stipe and obHterate the lamellae, which may appear only
as slight ridges, scarlet to bright orange-red or finally purple-red; perithecia
thickly scattered, immersed in the stroma and appearing as small pimples;
asci very long and narrow, cylindrical; ascospores, fusiform, slightly curved,
with an apiculus at each end, rough-walled, 35-40 X 7-8 /x-
On species of Lactarius. August and September.
This one representative of the Pyrenomycetes has been included because
the malformed mushrooms that have been attacked by it are fairly common
and always attract the attention of collectors by reason of their brilHant colors.
The parasitized mushrooms have been reported to be edible, but since it
is usually not possible to identify the species of mushroom attacked and there
is the possibility of a poisonous species being parasitized by the Hypomyces,
they are not recommended as food.
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