Dog Stinkorn: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. EN – Endangered.

Brief description. Fruit bodies are 3–4 cm across, oviform or egg– shaped when young. Peridium is white, tears into lobes. Receptacle is cylindrical, stuffed, spongy. Stipe is 10–15 cm long, 0,4–1 cm in width, orange–yellowish, surmounted by the narrow conical or reddish–orange head/capitulum. Capitulum is covered with slime, olive–coloured gleba, that has unpleasant, disgusting smell. Spores are 4–5 x 1,5–2,5 µm, colourless or light yellow, ellipsoid.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, Northern America, Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia). In Armenia it is discovered in Ijevan floristic region – in "Dilijan" National Park; in Aparan floristic region – in the area of the river Marmarik, in oak–hornbeam woods; in Sevan floristic region – in "Sevan" National Park on Martuni–Gavar route.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. It is rarely met, usually in groups, on the soil, in broad–leaved forests, on the altitude of 1500–2000 m above sea level, from June to July. Saprotrophic fungi on humus. It belongs to decorative mushroom species.

Main factors of endangering. Not examined.

Nature conservation measures. In Armenia it is conserved in corresponding ecosystems of "Dilijan" and "Sevan" National Parks. It is necessary to carry out control of habitats/biotopes.