Hydnum ellipsosporum

The genus Hydnum has undergone extensive molecular revision in recent years, leading to the recognition of numerous new species, including the taxon treated here.

Hydnum ellipsosporum is distinguished from allied taxa such as H. ovoideisporum, H. vesterholtii, H. rufescens, etc., by its distinctly ellipsoid spores (mean Q > 1.5) that exceed 9 µm in average length.

Over recent years of analyzing all collections in the rufescens complex, after repeatedly confirming H. ovoideisporum and H. aff. rufescens, H. ellipsosporum was finally located on a single occasion in an evergreen oak woodland (Quercus rotundifolia), suggesting it represents a rare taxon locally.

This collection was gathered in Gaubea (Álava) in December under holm oaks. Interestingly, neighboring Hydnum fruitbodies under Pinus sylvestris in the vicinity all proved to be Hydnum ovoideisporum.