14/Sep/23, 5:00 PM
Raudoja, Harju County
Mixed forest spruce-pine part, in moss, on decaying insect remains
59°22'41.5"N 25°29'17.7"E
🔆 Still sunny weather with clouds, deep shade
Original Instagram postCordyceps militaris
Scarlet Caterpillar Club
- Scientific identification
- Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr.
- Family
- Cordycipitaceae
- Class
- Sordariomycetes
- Genus
- Cordyceps
Names across languages
- English: Scarlet Caterpillar Club
- German: Puppen-Kernkeule
- Estonian: Harilik kedristõlvik
- Russian: Кордицепс военный
The scientific profile
From the latest record: 2023-09-14.
Cap
1-2.5 cm in length. Typically small and club-shaped, bright orange or reddish-orange. The surface can be smooth to slightly granular.
Hymenium
Not applicable in the traditional sense; Cordyceps species produce spores from the surface of the fruiting body.
Hymenium attachment
N/A.
Stipe
Long, slender, and cylindrical, similar in color to the cap or slightly paler.
Spore print
Spore Print: Whitish to pale orange.
Description
Parasitic on underground pupae and larvae of various insects, particularly caterpillars. When the fungus matures, it bursts forth from the host body.
Odour
Not distinctive.
Uses & compounds
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine for various health benefits, including boosting the immune system.
Fruit body
5-15 cm in length.
Microscopy
Spores are cylindrical, hyaline, 3-5 x 1-1.5 µm.
Overview
Known for its striking appearance and its parasitic lifestyle on insects. It's one of the few species within the genus Cordyceps that can be cultivated, and it's often used as a substitute for the more famous Ophiocordyceps sinensis, the caterpillar fungus of Tibetan Plateau fame.
1818). Observ. Mycol. (Havniae) 2: 317 (Cancellans).
Field encounters
Source hashtags
#fungi #photo #sonyalpha #cordycepsmilitaris #caterpillarclub #kedristõlvik #cordyceps #harilikkedristõlvik #macro #mushroom #medicinalfungi #forestwalk #mycology #naturephotography #entomopathogenicfungi #mushroomhunt #raudoja #seened #eestiseened #fungiphoto #fungistudy #puppenkernkeule #kernkeule #pilze #seenefotod #pilzefotografieren #фотогрибов #champignon
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