Hypomyces cervinigenus

Hypomyces cervinigenus is a parasitic ascomycete fungus that grows on elfin saddle (Helvella) mushrooms in Europe and North America.

Taxonomy
The species was described as new to science in 1971 by Clark Rogerson and Horace Simms. The type collection was made in Pierce County, Washington, where the fungus was found growing on the stipe and cap of what they identified as a fruit body of Helvella lacunosa. (Later molecular work demonstrated that the European H. lacunosa is not found in North America, and that the corresponding species are H. dryophila and H. vespertina.)

Description
H. cervinigenus has perithecia that are white to pale buff with a waxy texture. The ascospores are two-celled, smooth-walled, and measure less than 25 μm long. The anamorph form of the fungus is known as Mycogone cervina.

Distribution and habitat
H. cervinigenus can be found growing on elfin saddle (Helvella) mushrooms in Europe and North America.