Lysurus gardneri

What You Should Know

Lysurus gardneri can be identified by the fertile surface of its arms being quite shaggy in appearance and covering only the upper portion of the arm, leaving the base bare. The arms are also usually joined together at the top.

Lysurus congolensis is a synonym, according to Dring (1980). Australian authors, including Cunningham (1944/1979), have frequently misapplied the name "Lysurus gardneri" to Lysurus cruciatus. Reports of Lysurus gardneri from the Caribbean also appear to have confused Lysurus gardneri with Lysurus cruciatus.

Other names: Tsukushi-take (Japan).

Lysurus gardneri Mushroom Identification

1. Description

   The fruiting body consists of a cylindrical stipe topped by several short, vertical arms that are joined together at the tips.

2. Egg

   White, up to 30 mm diameter, with white rhizomorphs at the base. The egg remnants are seen as a volva at the base of the mature fruiting body's stem.

3. Stipe

   Cylindrical, up to 150 mm tall and 20 mm diameter. May be white to pale cream. Hollow. The stipe wall consists of a single row of thin-walled tubes.

4. Arms

   4-6, relatively short and claw-like, firmly united at their tips but rarely may become free with age. The fertile portion of the arm is quite shaggy in appearance and covers the upper part of the arm, leaving the sterile base bare. A narrow, bare groove runs down the center of the outer surface of each arm.

5. Gleba

   Brown to almost black, carried on the inner and side faces of the upper portion of the arms. Smell not unpleasant.

6. Spores

   4-5 x 1.5 μm, cylindric/bacilliform.

7. Habitat

   Grows on the ground in damp, shady places.

Sources:

Photo 1 - Author: a.Potato (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic)