Asterophora lycoperdoides (Bull.) Ditmar
(Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool)

Interactions where Asterophora lycoperdoides is the dominant partner and gains from the process

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Stage Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises decayed fruitbody Lactarius vellereus Fleecy Milkcap Russulales: Russulaceae Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr., Brand, A.W., 1990
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Lactarius vellereus/Lactarius vellereusfleecy milkcapdecayedfruitbody (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises moribund fruitbody Lactarius vellereus Fleecy Milkcap Russulales: Russulaceae Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr., Brand, A.W., 1990
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Lactarius vellereus/Lactarius vellereusfleecy milkcapmoribundfruitbody (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises moribund fruitbody UK/Ireland Russula brittlegill toadstools, russulas Russulales: Russulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula/Russulabrittlegill toadstools, russulasmoribundfruitbody (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises decayed fruitbody UK/Ireland Russula brittlegill toadstools, russulas Russulales: Russulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula/Russulabrittlegill toadstools, russulasdecayedfruitbody (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises moribund fruitbody UK/IrelandMinor Russula adusta Winecork Brittlegill Russulales: Russulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula adusta/Russula adustawinecork brittlegillmoribundfruitbodyMinor (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises decayed fruitbody UK/IrelandMinor Russula adusta Winecork Brittlegill Russulales: Russulaceae Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula adusta/Russula adustawinecork brittlegilldecayedfruitbodyMinor (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises moribund fruitbody UK/IrelandMajor Russula nigricans Blackening Brittlegill, Blackening Russula Russulales: Russulaceae Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr., Brand, A.W., 1990
Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula nigricans/Russula nigricansblackening brittlegill, blackening RussulamoribundfruitbodyMajor (summer-autumn)
fruitbody fruitbody parasitises decayed fruitbody UK/IrelandMajor Russula nigricans Blackening Brittlegill, Blackening Russula Russulales: Russulaceae Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr., Brand, A.W., 1990
Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota, Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005
 /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody Fungus / parasiteUK and/or Eire /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Russulales/Russulaceae/Russula nigricans/Russula nigricansblackening brittlegill, blackening RussuladecayedfruitbodyMajor (summer-autumn)

Interactions where Asterophora lycoperdoides is the victim or passive partner (and generally loses out from the process)

The following relationships have been collated from the published literature (see 'Interaction References').

Filters:

Affected Part Summary Taxon Vernacular Classification References Darwin Classification of Active Taxon Active Taxon Active Vernacular Active Taxon Uncertain Active State Active Part Active Stage Relationship Relationship Uncertain Relationship Geography Darwin Classification of Passive Taxon Passive Taxon Passive Vernacular Passive Taxon Uncertain Passive State Passive Part Passive Stage Passive Taxon's significance to Active Taxon Indoors etc Season Summary
fruitbody fruitbody is parasitised by gregarious, partly immersed perithecium Pyxidiophora asterophora an ascomycete Pyxidiophorales: Pyxidiophoraceae Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook, Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998
 /Fungi/Ascomycota/Laboulbeniomycetes/Pyxidiophorales/Pyxidiophoraceae/Pyxidiophora asterophora/Pyxidiophora asterophoraan ascomycetegregarious, partly immersedperithecium Fungus / parasite /Fungi/Basidiomycota/Agaricomycetes/Agaricales/Lyophyllaceae/Asterophora lycoperdoides/Asterophora lycoperdoidespowdery piggyback, pick-a-back toadstoolfruitbody gregarious, partly immersed perithecium parasitises fruitbody

Author & YearTitleSource
Brand, A.W., 1990Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr.Mycologist Vol 04 (2): 87.
Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1998Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates: An Identification Handbook2nd (New Enlarged) edition, 246pp, The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd
Legon, N.W. & Henrici, A. with Roberts, P.J., Spooner, B.M. & Watling, R., 2005Checklist of the British and Irish Basidiomycota517pp, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool) may also be included in 'feeds on' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool) may also be included in 'fed on by' relations listed under the following higher taxa:

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesAsterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool)
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)
NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool)

Identification Works

Handling & MagnificationAuthorYearTitleSource
Brand, A.W. 1990 Profiles of Fungi No. 28: Nyctalis asterophora Fr. Mycologist Vol 04 (2): 87.

Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

Literature listed under the following higher taxa may be relevant to Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool):

BioImagesBioImages (www.bioimages.org.uk) has 40 images of Asterophora lycoperdoides (Powdery Piggyback, Pick-a-back Toadstool)

The commoner of our two species of Asterophora. The toadstools parasitise species of Russula, especially R. nigricans but also R. adusta. The fruitbodies are initially white (when they invite misidentification as A. parasitica) but soon turn brown as they develop a coating of brown chlamydospores. The gills are always poorly developed.

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