Typhula juncea

Morphological Features:

Fruiting body that can reach a maximum height of 7 cm, thread-like in shape, and barely 3 mm wide at its broadest point. It is pale ochraceous in color on the upper two-thirds, including the apex, which is generally rounded, less frequently tapering to a point. In the early stages of development it is solid, but becomes hollow quickly, with the upper portion usually slightly broader, tapering towards the base.

Hymenium smooth, located on the external surface of the fruiting body, occupying the entire upper region, with the base being sterile.

Stipe constituted by the sterile region of the fruiting body, darker ochraceous than the hymenial zone, and also thinner. The color change is visible to the naked eye, but this does not preclude it from being considered a mere extension rather than a true stipe.

Flesh thin and insignificant, noting that the fruiting body becomes hollow quickly; very pale ochre or cream-colored, without any noteworthy odor or taste.

Habitat:

Found on decomposing leaves of pedunculate oak during autumn, it may, however, also fruit in holm oak woodlands, both on leaves and bark, and can occasionally appear during spring. Besides being rare, its small size and slender habit make it difficult to locate.

Observations:

It is a filiform species of reduced size that grows gregariously, occasionally forming large colonies despite its rarity. Typhula phacorrhiza is very similar in shape and size, but emerges from a sclerotium and lacks clamp connections. Another species of similar shape but much larger is Typhula fistulosa, which can reach up to 20 cm in height and possesses larger spores.