Lentinellus ursinus
Lentinellus ursinus (Fr. : Fr.) Kühner
Auriscalpiaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Cap at first convex then flat to concave, kidney-shaped or shell-shaped, 1–4 cm in diameter, eccentric, sessile, dark brown, red brown, with yellowish margin, velvety fibrillose, dry. Gills fan-like situated, irregularly serrate, narrow, whitish or pale yellow. Spores semi-globose, 3–4 × 2.2–3 µm, colourless. Fruit-bodies in large clusters. VIII–XI.
Habitats and populations. On dead wood in deciduous forests (beeches – Fagus, birch – Betula, hornbeams – Carpinus, oaks – Quercus). Two large clumps of 25 and 37 fruit-bodies, respectively, have been found twice on a dry oak trunks, in the locality in Mt Osogovska.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Forebalkan (Eastern – Lisets village, Gabrovo district), West Frontier Mts (Osogovska Mt – Hisarluk locality near Kyustendil), Rila Mts (above Sestrimo village).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, infrastructure development (tourism/recreation, transport), fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi 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. Burzakov 1926; Hinkova 1958b; Gyosheva et al. 2000, 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
