Hypomyces lactifluorum

Lobster mushroom
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Hypocreales
Family: Hypocreaceae
Genus: Hypomyces
Species:
H. lactifluorum
Binomial name
Hypomyces lactifluorum
Hypomyces lactifluorum
Mycological characteristics
Smooth hymenium
Lacks a stipe
Ecology is parasitic
Edibility is choice

Hypomyces lactifluorum, or the lobster mushroom, is a parasitic ascomycete fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster. The fungus is edible.