About Candolleomyces albosquamosus
- It is the new species belonging to the genus Candolleomyces which is relatively small genus with just 35 species recognised worldwide.
- It has white woolly scale-like structures on its pileus or cap.
- It grows to a height of just about 58 mm.
- The ‘cap,’ or pileus, of a mature Candolleomyces albosquamosus is 12 mm to 38.5 mm in diameter and bell-shaped.
- The honey-yellow coloured pileus turns brownish-gray or brownish-beige with age.
- The ‘stipe’(the stem or stalk) of the mushroom is white in colour and cylindrical.
- Habitats of Candolleomyces albosquamosus include dead logs or bamboo culms in the natural forest.
What are mushrooms?
- Mushrooms constitute secondary saprophytic fungi of the forest ecosystem.
- Secondary saprophytic fungi play a very important role in the decomposition of plant litter.
- The Western Ghats region in Kerala is rich in fungi, many of which could also be described as endemic to the region.
Q1) What are saprophytes?
These are a group of fungi that obtain their nutrition by decomposing dead organic matter. These fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down and recycling organic material, such as dead plants, fallen leaves, and wood, into simpler substances.
Source: Researchers identify a new mushroom species from the Western Ghats
Last updated on July, 2025
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