Hygrophoropsis rufa

Description

Hygrophoropsis rufa is a species of fungus in the family Hygrophoropsidaceae. It is rare and found in Europe, where it grows on woodchips or near conifer stumps. Cap up to 10 cm, orange brown to brown; cap margin incurved. Stipe usually tapering towards the base, concolorous with the cap. Flesh orange, unchanging when exposed to air. Gills orange, decurrent (running down the stipe), forked. Smell and taste not distinctive.

Mushroom Identification

1. Cap

   Cap diameter 3-10cm. Initially convex, caps usually expand to become shallow funnels but occasional specimens remain slightly domed or simply flat when fully mature; surface dry, matt to finely or granularly tomentose. Cap color orange-brown to dark brown. The cap margin remains slightly inrolled and is often wavy and irregular.

2. Gills

   Bright orange when young and fresh, becoming yellower when old, the repeatedly-forking gill-like spore-producing structures are deeply decurrent and narrow.

3. Stem

   Typically 3 to 5cm tall and 5 to 10mm in diameter, the upper parts of the tough stems of Hygrophoropsis rufa are the same color as the cap, while the stem base is white tomentose. The fibrous flesh is orange buff.

4. Spores

   Ellipsoidal to ovoid, smooth, thick-walled, 5.6-6.4 x 3.6-4.4μm; dextrinoid.

5. Spore print

   White.

6. Habitat & Ecological Role

   A rare species, H. rufa has been recorded in the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, and Denmark, although unconfirmed internet photos suggest a wider range that includes France and Slovakia. A saprophytic fungus, it fruits on woodchips or near conifer stumps.

Look-Alikes

1. Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca

   Has a paler yellow-orange cap and significantly larger thin-walled spores.

2. Cantharellus cibarius

   Popular edible species found in similar woodland habitats, has wrinkled veins rather than gills.

History

Originally described by Derek Reid in 1972 as a variety of Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, it was raised to distinct species status in 2008. Molecular analysis of DNA sequences confirms its genetic uniqueness, and its status as sister species to H. aurantiaca.

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: 2012-01-28_Hygrophoropsis_aurantiaca_(Wulfen)_Maire_197125.jpg: (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Photo 2 - Author: Holger Krisp (CC BY 3.0)

Photo 3 - Author: Holger Krisp (CC BY 3.0)

Photo 4 - Author: Jason Hollinger (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photo 5 - Author: Jason Hollinger (CC BY-SA 2.0)