Stats

Lifespan

Annual

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

This parasitic fungus grows exclusively on the caps of Amanita mushrooms in the forest. It encases its host in a thick white crust that prevents the mushroom from ever opening its gills.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Ascomycota

Class

Sordariomycetes

Order

Hypocreales

Family

Hypocreaceae

Genus

Hypomyces

Species

Hypomyces hyalinus