Hypomyces lactifluorum
| Lobster mushroom | |
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| Species: | H. lactifluorum
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| Hypomyces lactifluorum | |
Lobster mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum) is not a mushroom, but rather a parasitic ascomycete (a type of fungus) that grows on mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster. It colonizes members of the genera Lactarius (Milk-caps) and Russula, such as Russula brevipes and Lactarius piperatus in North America. At maturity, H. lactifluorum thoroughly covers its host, rendering it unidentifiable. Lobster mushrooms are widely eaten and enjoyed; they are commercially marketed and are commonly found in some large grocery stores. They have a seafood-like flavor and a firm, dense texture. According to some, they may taste somewhat spicy if the host mushroom is an acrid Lactarius.
External links
- A lobster mushroom article on Tom's Fungi
- AmericanMushrooms.com: Lobster Mushroom
- Lobster mushroom on mykoweb
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