''Cyptotrama nivea'' also known as ''Cyptotrama niveum'' is a species of

mushroom A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans. The standard for the name "mushroom" is t ...

producing

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

in the family Agaricaceae.

Taxonomy

It was described in 1989 by the German mycologist

Rolf Singer Rolf Singer (June 23, 1906 – January 18, 1994) was a Germany, German-born mycologist and one of the most important Taxonomy (biology), taxonomists of gilled mushrooms (agarics) in the 20th century. After receiving his Ph.D. at the University ...

who classified it as ''Cyptotrama niveum'' however this is now regarded as an orthographic variant and the species is now called ''Cyptotrama nivea.''

Description

''Cyptotrama nivea'' is a very small snow white mushroom with white, unchanging flesh. Cap: 5mm wide and obtusely convex. The surface is snow white and finely frosted (pruinose) or finely hairy/woolly (sub-tomentose). Gills: Subdecurrent to decurrent, moderately crowded and white. Stem: 1.6cm wide and 1.3mm thick, running equally along the length. The surface is white with a silky, downy coating and a tomentose base. Spores: Ellipsoidal, smooth, hyaline, non-amyloid. 10.5-16.8 x 6.7-9.3 μm. Basidia: 25-31 x 8-13 μm. Four spored. Smell: Indistinct.

Etymology

The specific epithet ''nivea'' or ''niveum'' derives from the Latin ''niveus'' meaning as white as snow.

Habitat and distribution

The specimens studied by Singer were found growing solitary on fallen leaves in

Igapó Igapó (, from Old Tupi: "root forest") is a word used in Brazil for blackwater-flooded forests in the Amazon biome. These forests and similar swamp forests are seasonally inundated with freshwater. They typically occur along the lower reaches of ...

forests along the Igarapé Tarumãzinho river in Brazil.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10464915 Agaricaceae Fungi described in 1989 Fungi of South America Taxa named by Rolf Singer Fungus species