Nest Cap: Red Data Book of Armenia

Category. EN – Endangered.

Brief description. Cap is from 3–10 cm across. When fresh it is crimson–pink or orange–yellow. Dry fruit bodies are yellow–brown, flat or convex, velvety. Flesh is slightly pink, yellowish, reddish–yellow. When dry it is white, with unpleasant smell and taste. Gills are of brighter colour than the cap. Stipe is absent. Spore print is light brownish. Spores are 5–6 x 2,5–3,5 µm, ellipsoid or bean–like, smooth.

Distribution. Generally in Europe, Asia, Northern Africa, Northern America, Southern Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia). In Armenia it is discovered in Ijevan floristic region – in "Dilijan" National Park.

Ecological, biological and phytocenological peculiarities. In Armenia it is rarely met, mainly in groups, on the branches of dry trees, in oak – hornbeam forests, on the altitude of 1600 m above sea level, in the month of October. Xylotrophic fungi. Fruit bodies are edible.

Main factors of endangering. Loss of habitats, degradation and breakdown of ecosystems, degression of forest areas caused by uncontrolled felling.

Nature conservation measures. In Armenia it is conserved in corresponding ecosystems of "Dilijan" National Park. It is necessary to carry out monitoring of the discovered populations and discovery of new habitats.