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Danny’s DNA Discoveries – 'Stereopsis' humphreyi of the PNW (Incertae Cedis)
by Danny Miller

'Stereopsis' humphreyi, the ghost funnel, is a rare white funnel shaped mushroom with a fuzzy stem and slight wrinkles under the cap. The cap may be "normal" or somewhat spatula shaped with an indentation in one place. It is found under spruce near the coast.

Cotylidia is kind of similar, but more coral-like with overlapping rosettes for a cap, and Muscinupta is similar but much smaller and more delicate as well as less well defined.

'Stereopsis' humphreyi WA is no where near the type species of Stereopsis, Stereopsis radicans, in the fungal tree. True Stereopsis get their own order, the Stereopsidales. Our local species is somewhere in the Agaricales, but too distant from everything else to know exactly how it fits in using only ITS. We'll need a multi-gene study, and this species needs a new genus and family erected for it.

abundant common uncommon rare - colour codes match my Pictorial Key and are my opinions and probably reflect my bias of living in W WA. Rare species may be locally common in certain places at certain times.