''Hypomyces'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of parasitic

ascomycete Ascomycota is a phylum of the kingdom Fungi that, together with the Basidiomycota, forms the subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the sac fungi or ascomycetes. It is the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species. The def ...

fungi found in Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of China. The genus contains 53 species. Better known species include the lobster mushroom (''Hypomyces lactifluorum'') and the bolete eater (''Hypomyces chrysospermus'').

List of noteworthy species

* '' H. cervinigenus''on '' Helvella lacunosa''. * '' H. chrysospermus''Bolete Eater, Cask fungus (Eurasia, Western Australia, North America) * '' H. hyalinus''Amanita "mold" (North America) * '' H. lactifluorum''Lobster mushroom (North America) * '' H. lateritius''Ochre gillgobbler, pathogen of ''

Lactarius ''Lactarius'' is a genus of mushroom-producing, ectomycorrhizal fungi, containing several Edible mushroom, edible species. The species of the genus, common name, commonly known as milk-caps, are characterized by the milky fluid ("latex") they ex ...

'' species. * '' H. luteovirens''Yellow-green Russula "mold" (North America) * '' H. transformans''Ramaria Eater (North America)

Ecology

All ''Hypomyces'' species live as parasites on other fungi. The fruiting bodies of hypomyces are inconspicuous and generally consist of a cystic shell that is only about 1 mm in diameter and height. These fruiting bodies often cluster on the fruiting bodies of other host fungi, transforming the shape and color of the host into something different from the host's original appearance. The most commonly recognized form is the one in which the host's fruiting body is integrated with the cystic shell of the hypomyces.

Shape

The individual fungi bodies are finely grained, and many of them exhibit long, narrow ellipsoids under magnification. Their diameter and height are usually about 1 to 2 mm. In general,

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

e are spread on the surface of a host fruit body and buried in the mycelium to form a large number of fruiting bodies. These can be yellow, white, olive, tan, pink or red, and present within the host or in the hypha mat. The individual fruiting bodies are microscopically granular, and under a magnifying glass, many of them show elongated ellipsoid shapes, and are usually only 1–2 mm in diameter and height. Generally, hyphae are spread on the surface of a host fruiting body and buried in the mycelium to form a large number of fruiting bodies. The color of the fruiting bodies themselves or the mycelial mat covering the host surface can be yellow, white, olive, yellowish brown, pink, or red. Countless of asci form inside each fruiting body, which are then ejected into the outside world through the hole at the tip of the fruiting body. The asci formed inside the fruiting body is elongated and cylindrical, with a dome-shaped structure called the "apical cap" at the tip. Eight spores are formed inside each ascus. The spores are generally somewhat angular and ellipsoid, and in many species are separated by a single septum, usually colorless to pale yellow, with thick cell walls and wart-like or bump-like patterns on the surface. Some species have horn-shaped or cap-shaped "appendages" at both ends of the spores.

Life cycle

Most species reproduce asexually. Asexual regeneration spores are generally referred to as thick-wall spores, as they have thick cell walls presumably to maintain a system of dormancy and endurance. However, the precise mechanisms of spore reproduction, specifically the methods used to find and infest hosts is largely unknown.

Hosts

Each species of fungus in the genus Hypomyces has a general preference for the type of host it prefers. In addition to afflicting terrestrial mushrooms of the genera ''

Amanita The genus ''Amanita'' contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded Edible mushroom, edible species (and many species of unknown edibility). The genus is re ...

'', ''

Russula ''Russula'' is a very large genus composed of around 750 worldwide species of fungi. The genus was described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1796. The mushrooms are fairly large, and brightly colored – making them one of the most recognizable ...

'', ''

'', '' Lactifluus'', ''

Suillus ''Suillus'' is a genus of basidiomycete fungi in the family Suillaceae and order Boletales. Species in the genus are associated with trees in the pine family (Pinaceae), and are mostly distributed in temperate locations in the Northern Hemisphe ...

'', ''

Xerocomus ''Xerocomus'' is a genus of poroid fungi related to ''Boletus''. Most members of ''Xerocomus'' are edible mushroom, edible, though of mediocre gastronomical value and inferior to the sought-after Boletus edulis, porcini. Taxonomy Many mycol ...

'', and '' Boletus'', other fungi that form hard, cork-like fruiting bodies on trees, such as '' Trametes'' and '' Stereum'', can also serve as hosts. ''

Auricularia auricula-judae ''Auricularia auricula-judae'', commonly known as wood ear, jelly ear or, more historically, Jew's ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are brown, gelatinous, and have a noticeably ear-like shap ...

'' that produce colloidal fruiting bodies, and

Pezizaceae The Pezizaceae (commonly referred to as cup fungi) are a family of fungi in the Ascomycota which produce mushrooms that tend to grow in the shape of a "cup". Spores are formed on the inner surface of the fruit body ( ascoma). The cup shape typi ...

belonging to the ascomycote fungi (e.g., '' Helvella'', '' Humaria'', and '' Leotia'') are also known to serve as hosts. When infected by ''Hypomyces'', the cap, or pileus of ''Amanita'' mushrooms do not develop properly, instead becoming deformed and stunted, often resembling human male genitalia. In those of the genus ''Russula'', the gaps between the folds of the host's lamella are filled with mycelium of ''Hypomyces'', showing ridged marks. In the genera ''Xerocomus'', and ''Boletus'', the development of the mushroom cap is often suppressed and the tubular pores formed on the underside of the host's lamellae are also filled with mycelium of ''Hypomyces''. In any case, the host mushroom's own spore formation and dispersal are hindered, or entirely prevented from occurring.

Distribution

Species of Hypomyces have been found in Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of China. There are at least 19 species recorded in Japan.

Edibility

Hypomyces lactifluorum ''Hypomyces lactifluorum'', or the lobster mushroom, is a parasitic Ascomycota, ascomycete fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster. Contrary to its ...

, whose main hosts are Russula and Lactifluus, is commonly called lobster mushroom in North America and United Kingdom. Depending on the type of mushroom that was parasitized, the cap may be very bitter, and in some cases inedible. If edible, it is often eaten stewed in cream sauce, fried, as a salad ingredient, or as an ingredient in pasta dishes. This species is also found in Japan.

Other species

'' *'' Hypomyces laeticolor'' *'' Hypomyces lateritius'' *'' Hypomyces leotiarum'' *'' Hypomyces leotiicola'' *'' Hypomyces linearis'' *'' Hypomyces linkii'' *'' Hypomyces lithuanicus'' *'' Hypomyces macrosporus'' *'' Hypomyces melanocarpus'' *'' Hypomyces melanochlorus'' *'' Hypomyces melanostigma'' *'' Hypomyces microspermus'' *'' Hypomyces miliarius'' *'' Hypomyces mycogones'' *'' Hypomyces mycophilus'' *'' Hypomyces niveus'' *'' Hypomyces novae-zelandiae'' *'' Hypomyces ochraceus'' *'' Hypomyces odoratus'' *'' Hypomyces orthosporus'' *'' Hypomyces paeonius'' *'' Hypomyces pallidus'' *'' Hypomyces pannosus'' *'' Hypomyces papulasporae'' *'' Hypomyces papyraceus'' *'' Hypomyces parvisporus'' *'' Hypomyces parvus'' *'' Hypomyces penicillatus'' *'' Hypomyces pergamenus'' *'' Hypomyces perniciosus'' *'' Hypomyces petchii'' *'' Hypomyces pezizae'' *'' Hypomyces polyporinus'' *'' Hypomyces porphyreus'' *'' Hypomyces pseudocorticiicola'' *'' Hypomyces pseudopolyporinus'' *'' Hypomyces psiloti'' *'' Hypomyces puertoricensis'' *'' Hypomyces purpureus'' *'' Hypomyces robledoi'' *'' Hypomyces rosellus'' *'' Hypomyces rostratus'' *'' Hypomyces rubi'' *'' Hypomyces semitranslucens'' *'' Hypomyces sepulchralis'' *'' Hypomyces sepultariae'' *'' Hypomyces siamensis'' *'' Hypomyces sibirinae'' *'' Hypomyces spadiceus'' *'' Hypomyces stephanomatis'' *'' Hypomyces stereicola'' *'' Hypomyces stuhlmannii'' *'' Hypomyces subaurantius'' *'' Hypomyces subiculosus'' *'' Hypomyces succineus'' *'' Hypomyces sulphureus'' *'' Hypomyces sympodiophorus'' *''

Hypomyces tegillum ''Hypomyces'' is a genus of parasitic ascomycete fungi found in Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of China. The genus contains 53 species. Better known species include the lobster mushroom (''Hypomyces lactifluorum'') and the bolete eat ...

'' *'' Hypomyces terrestris'' *'' Hypomyces thailandicus'' *'' Hypomyces thiryanus'' *'' Hypomyces tomentosus'' *'' Hypomyces torminosus'' *'' Hypomyces transformans'' *'' Hypomyces trichoderma'' *'' Hypomyces triseptatus'' *'' Hypomyces tubericola'' *'' Hypomyces tuberosus'' *'' Hypomyces tulasneanus'' *'' Hypomyces vanbruntianus'' *'' Hypomyces vandae'' *'' Hypomyces villosus'' *'' Hypomyces viridigriseus'' *'' Hypomyces viridis'' *'' Hypomyces volemi'' *'' Hypomyces vuilleminianus'' *'' Hypomyces xyloboli'' *'' Hypomyces xylophilus''

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5951106 Sordariomycetes genera Parasitic fungi Hypocreaceae Science and technology articles needing translation from Japanese Wikipedia Taxa named by Elias Magnus Fries