Hypomyces luteovirens, syn. Hypomyces tulasneanus

Posted for interest and a record, not for photogenic quality, ha. This was one of the fungi I photographed when a group of us went to West Bragg Creek on 25 August 2012, to search for mushroom species. I got an e-mail last night, asking if any of us had photographed this particular fungus, as it turns out that it was quite interesting. "This mushroom, looking like it is covered with algae, is a brother of the Lobster mushroom, thus a parasite; this one is Hypomyces luteovirens, Green Mushroom Pimple". Not sure I would have photographed it if I had found it somewhere on my own, and I wouldn't have pulled it : ) As it was, I reluctantly photographed it, as it really didn't look photogenic to me at all. Any confirmation or correction of ID would be greatly appreciated - thanks! If you look at this image in original size, you can see all the tiny green "pimples", if you are in the mood for looking at green pimples, ha.


"Fruit body a white then olive-green to dark green mold which produces dark green perithecia that project as small pimples. The mold covers the gills and stalk of lactarius and russula mushrooms. Habitat in woods on various species of russula and lactarius mushrooms. Common in wet weather wherever the host species are found, throughout many parts of North America."
www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~6208.asp

"This species of Hypomyces is a parasite on various species of Russula. It is easily recognized by its yellow-green color. It seems less avid about its parasitism than some species of Hypomyces, and tends to cover only the upper stem and gills of the host mushroom, leaving it fairly recognizable. Parasitic on various species of Russula, which have diverse habitats; widely distributed in North America. Fruit Body is a powdery, mold-like covering over the gills and stem of the host; yellow to yellowish green." From MushroomExpert.com., which is an excellent website.

www.mushroomexpert.com/hypomyces_luteovirens.html