Asterophora lycoperdoides

Asterophora lycoperdoides, commonly known as the star bearer, or powdery piggyback mushroom, is a species of fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family. It grows as a parasite on other mushrooms, mainly those in the genus Russula. Its gills are poorly formed or nearly absent. Asexual spores are produced on the mushrooms cap which enable the organism to clone itself easily. The spores are star-shaped, hence the name star bearer. It is regarded as nonpoisonous but inedible.

Asterophora lycoperdoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Lyophyllaceae
Genus:
Asterophora
Species:
A. lycoperdoides
Binomial name
Asterophora lycoperdoides
(Bull.) Ditmar
Synonyms
Species synonymy
  • 1784 Agaricus lycoperdoides Bull.
  • 1840 Asterophora agaricicola Corda
  • 1818 Asterophora agaricoides Fr. & Nordholm
  • 1989 Nyctalis agaricoides (Fr.) Bon & Courtec.
  • 1849 Artotrogus asterophora Fr.
  • 1851 Asterotrichum ditmarii Bonord.
  • 1805 Merulius lycoperdoides (Bull.) Lam. & DC.
  • 1889 Nyctalis lycoperdoides (Bull.) J.Schröt.
  • 1898 Artotrogus lycoperdoides (Bull.) Kuntze
  • 1898 Hypolyssus lycoperdoides (Bull.) Kuntze
  • 1933 Nyctalis asterophora f. major J.E.Lange
  • 1836 Asterophora nauseosa Weinm.
  • 1874 Nyctalis nauseosa (Weinm.) Fr.
  • 1995 Nyctalis agaricoides f. nauseosa (Weinm.) Bon
Asterophora lycoperdoides
Gills on hymenium
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white
Ecology is parasitic
Edibility is inedible

Asterophora parasitica is similar but has more conic caps.

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