Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Sphagnurus paluster

Sphagnurus paluster (Peck) Redhead & V. Hofst.

Two collections:

• 1. Gregarious amongst sphagna under Larix laricina, Betula papyrifera and Acer rubrum, Grand Lake Meadows Protected Natural Area, New Brunswick (17-06-13/02).

  • Basidiospores 5.7-6.8 X 4.1-4.7 μm, Q = 1.38-1.59.

• 2. Gregarious on Sphagnum sp. gametophytes in patches where the moss is dead or dying (or maybe drying out), in moist forest of Picea mariana and Larix laricina, Little Lepreau, New Brunswick (17-06-16/01).

  • Basidiospores white in spore print, ellipsoidal, smooth, not changing colour in Melzer’s Solution, 5.1-7.5 x 3.6-4.3 μm, Q = 1.42-1.89 (average[34]: 6.3 x 3.9 μm, Q = 1.62). Hymenial cystidia lacking. Pileipellis not greatly differentiated from the pileal trama, a cutis of broad finely encrusted clamped hyphae.

Probably parasitic on species of Sphagnum, S. paluster is restricted to carpets of these mosses. It is easily recognized by its striate brown caps and strong farinaceous odour.

Photograph: D. Malloch (17-06-13/02, 17-06-16/01).