Unknown mycoparasite on probable Hydnellum spongiosipes

[Leif]

Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated:

The Association of British Fungus Groups • View topic - Tiny agaric on spine fungus

(I don't want to paste the same stuff again.) I have had no response from Kew.

[mollisia]

Hello Leif,

no idea to it, sorry. But I think it not impossible, that it is not a parasite but growing accidentally on the Hydnellum. May be one should keep that in mind. The spores seem to be brown? I don't know of any brown spored parasite .... And I'm not sure, whether the spores are smooth.
The foto with the cystidia, is that from the cap surface? Are there also cystidia at the gill edge (if the gills were developed already)?

best regards,
Andreas

[cybershot]

What an excellent find and further examination which seems to have everyone baffled (looks like a minute Lycoperdon to me, but what the heck do I know) Good luck and every success in finding an answer.

David

[Leif]

Originally Posted by mollisia

Hello Leif,

no idea to it, sorry. But I think it not impossible, that it is not a parasite but growing accidentally on the Hydnellum. May be one should keep that in mind. The spores seem to be brown? I don't know of any brown spored parasite .... And I'm not sure, whether the spores are smooth.
The foto with the cystidia, is that from the cap surface? Are there also cystidia at the gill edge (if the gills were developed already)?

best regards,
Andreas

Hello Andreas. The cystidia are from the cap surface which can be seen to be coarsely scaly when the photo of the fungus is enlarged. The spores might be minutely rough, but I cannot be sure. I used Congo red which is not optimal for spore ornamentation in my experience. There were two finds on banks ~3m high separated by a road. I will check on vegetation nearby given your suggestion that it might not be a mycoparasite per se. There is a lot of dead vegetation in one of the specimens, but not the other, which appears to be a spine fungus that failed to develop before it rotted. The 'parasite' was less than 2mm high, I was unable to isolate gills, as I do not have the equipment or manual dexterity, hence the rather crude 'squash'. I suppose I could have tried a dissection under a 2.5x objective, but I am inclined to leave the other specimens to Kew if they are of interest. Maybe if I can find more today I can have another go. Thanks. Leif

[Leif]

No response from Kew, Michael Jordan has no suggestions, and Andreas is stumped! I made a third collection, also on an old spine fungus, presumably Hydnellum spongiosipes.