Ravenel’s Stinkorn: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. DD – Data Deficient.

Brief description. Young fruit bodies are from 2–3 cm across, acuminate, egg–shaped. Peridium is yellowish, pruinose covers the fine white membrane under which the reddish or pink stipe is situated. Stipe is 5–10 cm long, 1cm width, reddish, it turns into acuminate capitulum on the top. Capitulum is covered with slime, brown, olive–coloured and smooth gleba which has unpleasant, disgusting smell. Spores are 3,5–4,5 x 1,5–2 µm ellipsoid or longish, smooth. It somehow resembles M. caninus mushroom, but differs from it with bright colour of the fruit body, the shape of the stipe and smooth gleba.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, Southern America, Australia, Southern Caucasus (Armenia). It is met in unique individuals in a number of European countries. In Armenia it is found in Aparan flioristic region – in Tsakhunyac mountain chain.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. It is rarely met, usually in groups, on the soil, in oak and hornbeam forests, on the altitude of 1500–1800 m above sea level, from July to September. Saprotrophic fungi on humus.

Main factors of endangering. Not examined.

Nature conservation measures. It is necessary to carry out monitoring of the population state.