Asterophora parasitica (Bull.) Singer
(Silky Piggyback)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesAsterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback)
GenusAsterophora (piggyback or pick-a-back toadstools)
FamilyLYOPHYLLACEAE (a family of toadstools)
OrderAGARICALES (mushrooms and toadstools)
SubclassAGARICOMYCETIDAE (a subclass of basidiomycetes)
ClassAGARICOMYCETES (a class of fungi)
SubphylumAGARICOMYCOTINA (a subphylum of fungi)
PhylumBASIDIOMYCOTA (spore droppers, basidiomycetes)
KingdomFUNGI (true fungi)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback) :
1: Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback)
7 Oct 1987 OSGR: SU36 51° 20’ N, 1° 30’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
Image 1: Fruitbody -LSImage 2: Fruitbodies - oblique view - in situ - enlargedImage 3: Fruitbodies - showing gills and stipe - in situ - enlargedImage 4: Fruitbodies - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 5: Fruitbodies - young - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 6: Fruitbody - LS - enlargedImage 7: Fruitbody - side view - in situ - enlargedImage 8: Fruitbody - underside showing gills and stipe - in situ - enlargedImage 9: Fruitbody - underside showing gills and stipe - in situ - enlarged (2)Image 10: Chlamydospores - highly magnifiedImage 11: DescriptionImage 12: Description - contd

Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 10 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Asterophora parasitica (Silky Piggyback)

The less common of our two species of Asterophora. The toadstools parasitise Russula fruitbodies, especially R. nigricans, but also R. densifolia, R. fellea and R. foetens. The fruitbodies are always white and have well-developed gills.

It is often claimed that both species of Asterophora can grow together, but many of these records are likely to relate to immature A. lycoperdoides.

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