Haasiella venustissima
Haasiella venustissima (Fr.) Kotl. & Pouzar
Tricholomataceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B2ab(i,ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Cap at first convex, then concave in the centre to funnel-shaped, 2–6 cm in diameter, orange-red, orange to light orange-yellow; fibrillose furrowed to smooth; margin wavy. Gills decurrent, branched and anastomosing, medium dense to dense, light orange. Stipe cylindrical, 3–5.5 × 0.2–0.6 cm, light orange, fibrillose, scaly, with white cotton-like mycelium at the base. Flesh light yellow-orange. Spores broadly ellipsoid to semi-globose, 6–8 × 3.8–6 µm, yellowish, verrucose. X–XII.
Habitats and populations. On the ground or on dead branches in deciduous forests and in shrubs (ash – Fraxinus, oaks – Quercus, black locust – Robinia pseudoacacia, black elder – Sambucus nigra, lilac – Syringa vulgaris, etc.). To date four populations have been recorded with large groups of 15–42 fruit-bodies.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Znepole Region (Golo Burdo Mt – near Radomir), West Frontier Mts (Ograzhden Mt – near Purvomai; Osogovska Mt – near Kyustendil), Rhodopi Mts (Western – above Dospat).
General distribution. Europe (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden).
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by wood plantations, logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, urbanization, fires; household soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Gyosheva 2000; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
