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Photo By Alan Rockefeller (Alan Rockefeller)

Star bearer

Asterophora lycoperdoides

A species of Piggybacks, Also known as Powdery piggyback

Star bearer is a unique parasitic mushroom that grows on other decaying mushrooms in the Russula or Lactarius genera. Those mushrooms can be parasitized by other species, but star bearer is unique, as it releases a coating of spores that may appear similar to puffball mushrooms, which is referenced by the scientific name of this mushroom, Asterophora lycoperdoides.

Cap Diameter:

1 - 20 mm

Odor:

Mild, not distinctive, slightly flour-like.

General Info About Star bearer

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Attributes of Star bearer

Cap Diameter

1 - 20 mm

Height

1 - 5 cm

Cap

Cap 4 - 20 mm across; convex, nearly round; whitish, orangish brown; dry, rough

Cap Shape

Convex

Cap Surfaces

Fibrillose-scaly

Gills

Attached to the stem; distant; whitish or grayish

Gill Attachment

Attached

Stem

Stem 4 - 30 mm long, 2 - 5 mm thick; equal; whitish to brownish, eventually covered with orangish brown powder; dry, smooth

Stem Shapes

Cylindrical

Stem Surfaces

Smooth to slightly fibrous

Stem Cross Sections

Hollow or cottony hollow

Flesh

White; unchanging colors when sliced

Ring

Ringless

Spore Print Color

White

Odor

Mild, not distinctive, slightly flour-like.

Body Color

Brown

White

Orange

Flesh Bruises

The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.

Growth Form

Solitary, Gregarious

Nutrient Gathering

Saprophytic, Parasitic

Substrate

On mushrooms

You can find Star bearer by these plants:

Russulas, Pines

Occurence Habitats

Deciduous Woodland, Coniferous Woodland, Mixed Woodland

Species Status

Widely distributed in North America

Endangered Species

How to Identify Star bearer

Fruiting Body Cap Gills

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Habitat of Star bearer

The star bearer can be found in a variety of forests where its host mushrooms appear. This parasitic mushroom grows on the mushrooms of the Russula and Lactarius genus. It mostly occurs on decaying and blackening specimens and it's usually associated with Russula dissimulans and Russula densifolia.

Distribution Area of Star bearer

North America,Europe,Central America,northern Asia

Scientific Classification of Star bearer

Phylum

Club fungi

Class

Mushroom-forming fungi

Order

Gilled fungi

Family

Lyophyllaceae

Genus

Piggybacks

Similar Species to Star bearer

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Tips for Finding Star bearer

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What are Some Tips for Finding Star bearer

Inspect decaying and blackened Lactarius or Russula mushrooms for the presence of star bearer.
Explore a range of forest types, as star bearer is not exclusive to one particular forest environment.
Look around the bases of host fungi, particularly in clusters where star bearer may grow gregariously.
Search for star bearer in areas where the host fungi are known to be common.
Carefully examine the forest floor for the characteristic features of star bearer rather than searching for them growing on soil.