Hymenopellis radicata

Hymenopellis radicata (Relhan) R.H. Petersen is a mushroom that has gone through many names over time, but is currently known as H. radicata.

H. radicata with a visible, long taproot, distinct to the group of mushrooms.
Figure 1: H. radicata with a visible, long taproot, distinct to the group of mushrooms.

Hymenopellis radicata (Relhan) R.H. Petersen is a mushroom that has gone through many names over time, but is currently known as H. radicata. This mushrooms is from a group of mushrooms referred to as Xeruloid mushrooms, which are commonly found around tree stumps as saprotrophs, and species are widespread through North America. They feature a long taproot, which distinguishes this group from other similar looking species (Fig. 1). Fruiting bodies have skinny stipes with no veil of any sort, and bell-shaped caps that range from yellow-brown to dark brown and open over time to be nearly flat, with an umbo. These caps are slippery when wet. H. radicata typically grows around beech tree stumps (Fig 2). , which is where this specimen was found, which along with the location (East of the Rocky Mountains) identifies it to species level. Spores make a white spore print, and are lemon-shaped microscopically.

  • Phylum: Basidiomycota
  • Class: Agaricomycetes
  • Order: Agaricales
  • Family: Physalacriaceae
  • Genus: Hymenopellis
  • Species: radicata
Hymenopellis radicata Figure 2
Figure 2: H. radicata growing at the base of a beech stump, seen behind the fruiting body.

 

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