Rosy Oysterling
Scytinotus longinquus
This fungus is remarkably rubbery and can completely desiccate during dry spells, only to rehydrate and continue releasing spores when it rains.
- Scientific name
- Scytinotus longinquus
- Taxonomy
- Fungi › Basidiomycota › Agaricomycetes › Agaricales › Porotheleaceae › Scytinotus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Damp temperate rainforests, specifically on decaying logs and fallen branches.
- Diet
- Saprotrophic, decomposing dead wood.
- Range
- Australia, New Zealand, Chile
- Size
- Cap diameter of 1 to 4 centimeters.
- Lifespan
- The underground mycelium can live for decades, while the pink fruiting bodies last for a few weeks.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Deforestation, removal of fallen timber, and climate-induced droughts.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, but do not consume as its edibility is unknown. Observe without harvesting to allow spore dispersal. If accidentally ingested, seek medical advice immediately.
Scytinotus longinquus is a saprotrophic fungus in the family Porotheleaceae, known for its delicate, pink to grey fruiting bodies. It grows on decaying wood in temperate forests and is distributed across the Southern Hemisphere and parts of North America.
Photo: no rights reserved, CC0, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/b34c646d-0912-4dd1-bb34-5f3f07916426.md