Powdercap Strangler

Powdercap Strangler - Dissoderma paradoxum

Alternative names
Squamanita paradoxa
Description

A remarkable mycoparasite that affects the Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum.   It grows up through the stem of its host, so the cap and upper stem are the Powdercap Strangler, while the lower stem below remains that of the host, Earthy Powdercap.  The cap is a brownish-purple colour with a paler edge; the stem is a similar colour, with fine scales.  The lower stem is the host, and is orange-brown and coarsely scaled.   There is a tattered ring on the stem at the point where the parasite emerges from its host.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph from the top, and from the side to clearly show the junction where the parasite emerges from the stem of its host.

Habitat

unimproved grassland

UK Status

Rare

VC55 Status

Rare

Further Information

https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/squamanita-paradoxa.php

Note the recent name-change.  It is not assigned to a family on the NBN. We have included it in Tricholomataceae because it is listed here, under its former name, on the BMS checklist and other sources.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records