Beenakia dacostae is commonly found growing around parts of Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. Found in the family Clavariadelphaceae this small, stalked fungus has a very smooth, white, wavy cap. Pale olive-brown teeth underneath the cap are long, pointed and extend part way down the stem.
| Beenakia dacostae | |
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| Beenakia dacostae | |
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| Genus: | Beenakia |
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| Beenakia dacostae D.A.Reid
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B. dacostae | |
Description edit
Commonly found growing on dry, woody debris or rotten branches in wet eucalypt forests. This small, stalked fungus has a very smooth, white, wavy cap. Pale olive-brown teeth underneath the cap are long, pointed and extend part way down the stem. The thin, woody stem is smooth and white, but often coloured pale brown with spores.[1]
Cap has a diameter to 25 mm; round to kidney-shaped, ageing flat to wavy; white, cream to ochre, drying to yellow-brown; smooth, cottony with soft matted hairs; margin often lobed. Central, off-centre or lateral stem; length to 30 mm, diameter to 3 mm, often poorly developed; slightly curved; white, yellow-brown at apex; woody, smooth, cottony with soft hairs. Basal mycelium white, matted. Teeth are decurrent; length to 10 mm; slender, tapering to a point; crowded; pale olive-brown.
The toothed Wood Hedgehog (Hydnum repandum)is a common look-alike, also found in leaf litter though is much larger (cap to 70 mm), has apricot tints and has a far more robust stem.
References edit
- ^ Fungimap Australia. Beenakia dacostae. http://fungimap.org.au/index.php/fduonline-home/38/294/tooth-fungi/P-beenakia-dacostae Archived 2014-03-19 at the Wayback Machine