Dendrocollybia is a genus of fungus in the family Tricholomataceae of the order Agaricales. It consists of the single species Dendrocollybia racemosa, a somewhat rare fungus found in the Northern Hemisphere, including the Pacific Northwest region of western North America, and Europe. It usually grows on the decaying fruit bodies of other agarics—such as Lactarius and Russula—although the host mushrooms may be decayed to the point of being difficult to recognize. Dendrocollybia racemosa fruit bodies have small pale grayish-white or grayish-brown caps and thin stems. The species is characterized by its unusual stem, which is covered with short lateral branches. The branches often produce spherical slimeheads of translucent conidiophores on their swollen tips. The conidiophores produce conidia (asexual spores) by mitosis. Because the fungus can rely on either sexual or asexual modes of reproduction, fruit bodies sometimes have reduced or even missing caps. The unusual stems originate from black pea-sized structures called sclerotia. It is able to reproduce at relatively low temperatures, an adaptation believed to improve its ability to grow quickly and fruit on decomposing mushrooms.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrocollybia

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1579:

Our Lady of Kazan, a holy icon of the Russian Orthodox Church, was discovered underground in Kazan, present-day Tatarstan, Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Kazan

1758:

French and Indian War: French forces defeated the British at Fort Carillon on the shore of Lake Champlain in the British Colony of New York. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carillon

1808:

Joseph Bonaparte approved the Bayonne Statute, a royal charter intended as the basis for his rule as king of Spain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayonne_Statute

1994:

Upon the death of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il became the Supreme Leader of North Korea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il

2004:

After a 19-month trial, U.S. Marine Corps Major Michael Brown was convicted by a court in Naha, Okinawa, for an attempted indecent assault on a Filipina bartender. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown_Okinawa_assault_incident

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

maw: 1. The upper digestive tract (where food enters the body), especially the mouth and jaws of a ravenous creature. 2. Any great, insatiable or perilous opening. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/maw

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

By the work one knows the workman. --Jean de La Fontaine https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_de_La_Fontaine