Onygena equina

Morphological Features:

Fruiting body composed of small fruiting structures with a clearly differentiated stipe and head. They are shaped like matches, albeit with a very minute head that barely reaches 2 mm in diameter. Initially, the head is white, but it turns brown upon maturation and assumes a globose shape.

Hymenium embedded within the head of the fruiting body, composed of asci that are released from the center outwards until the head itself completely disintegrates.

Stipe cylindrical, barely 5 mm long, dirty white in color.

Flesh practically absent.

Habitat:

It can be found year-round, growing in gregarious clusters, always attached to bone remains from both bovine and equine livestock, as well as horns, hooves, and other similar organic debris, which constitute its natural habitat.

Observations:

This small fungus evidently lacks any culinary value; it is one of those mycological curiosities that may be encountered while walking in areas where vultures have finished their feast. It closely resembles Onygena corvina, which differs only microscopically and by its habitat on animal tissues or feathers.