Fleshy Fungi of New Brunswick >> Inocybe stellatospora

Inocybe stellatospora (Peck) Massee

Picture of Inocybe stellatospora 11-08-10/04 Picture of Inocybe stellatospora 26-09-16/03 Picture of Inocybe stellatospora 24-09-08/03

Three collections:

Inocybe stellatospora is one of several species having a cap with upright (squarrose) scales and nodulose basidiospores. We have studied four other species in this group in eastern Canada: I. lanuginosa, I. leptophylla, I. subcarpta and I. teraturgus. All look remarkably alike in the field and can best be identified using microscopic characteristics. They can be distingushed by the following key:

The most striking features of I. stellatospora are the extremely nodulose basidiospores. When viewed in profile they often have the appearance of rooster combs, seen especially well in the second, seventh and eighth spores in the illustration of Collection 24-09-08/03 above. The pleurocystidia are rather variable in shape in our three collections but probably fit well enough within the current concept of the species.

Photos: D. Malloch (11-08-10/04, 24-09-08/03, 26-09-16]03).