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Tolypocladium longisegmentum
Solitary club-shaped mushrooms (several yards apart) with rounded, dome-shaped pilei that are dark brown to black with pore-like structures on the surface. Texture is somewhat gelatinous and moist. Older specimen's pileus is entirely black with a dry surface. Stipe is as follows: apex is pale to dirty yellow/gray. This color tapers to vibrant yellow towards base. Entire specimen is around 7.5 cm tall. All 3 specimens I found were between 6-8 cm. This is a first time spotting on Project Noah. Tolypocladium is a genus found in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family, a family of parastitic fungi. The Tolypocladium genus was once labeled "Elaphocordyceps" but was synonymized with Tolypocladium in 2014. Tolypocladium longisegmentum parasitizes Elaphomyces truffles in particular. Often confused with Tolypocladium capitatum, the two species can be differentiated via spore size and cap glossiness.
Growing (not in clusters) in multiple areas in deep leaf litter on the side of a ridge in a dense mixed hardwood/coniferous forest in Northwest Georgia (Gordon County), US. 12-17-17
After I got this ID, I had so much regret that I didn't dig down further to find the Elaphomyces truffle host! I can't wait to go back to the same location to try to find more!
Spotted on Dec 17, 2017
Submitted on Dec 18, 2017
12 Comments
Thank you, Christine!!
Oh my gosh! Thank you for the nomination!!
This was such a great find. Congrats on your nomination!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
I thought so too, Mark! I saved the specimen, but I did not have any good blades available to attempt sectioning (I'm not very skilled with it yet)!
Wowsers.. that's a really interesting one! Did you section the cap?
I'm not sure how it would be implemented? Perhaps have a "Mission" just for this?
Great idea ;)
Sukanya, I would love that too! <3
Wow...I think we should have a patch for first spottings.👑
Thank you, Christine! I'm still excited about finding them!
Super cool! Congrats on the first spotting :)