Hericium flagellum
Hericium flagellum (Scop.) Pers.
Hericiceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-body frutescent or coral-shaped, fleshy, 15(20) cm tall, at first white, sometimes with a pink tinge, then yellowish to brownish. Hymenium composed of numerous spines situated at the edges of the branches and facing different directions, long, straight or slightly curved, concolorous with the fruit-body. Flesh at first white then yellowish. Spores semi-globose, 4.5–6 × 4.5–5.5 µm, white. Fruit-bodies single or in groups. VIII–XI.
Habitats and populations. On dead wood in old coniferous (spruce – Picea, fir – Abies) and mixed (fir – Abies, beeches – Fagus) forests in the mountains.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Pirin Mts (Southern – near Yavorov railway station), Rila Mts (near Malyovitsa chalet; Parangalitsa Strict Nature Reserve; near Rila Monastery).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, removing of dead wood from forests, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires, gathering for private consumption.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The known localities are situated on the territories of Pirin and Rila National Parks, Rilski Manastir Nature Park, and Parangalitsa Strict Nature Reserve. 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. Stoichev & Dimcheva 1982; Stoichev & Gyosheva 2005; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
