Also, he made important findings in regard to the true nature of individual members of the so-called genus " Sclerotium ".
12.
"G . frondosa " grows from an underground tuber-like structure known as a sclerotium, about the size of a potato.
13.
Sometimes, these species appear to be growing in the soil ( or from their sclerotium in soil or moss ), but usually not in huge clusters.
14.
But generalist pathogens such as " Athelia rolfsii " ( aka " Sclerotium rolfsii " ) are known to attack over 200 different species.
15.
Medicinal properties of tiger milk mushroom only found in underground tuber or sclerotium, but unfortunately formation of cap and stem would have depleted most of its essence.
16.
When a mature sclerotium drops to the ground, the fungus remains dormant until proper conditions ( such as the onset of spring or a rain period ) trigger its fruiting phase.
17.
In most cases, the sclerotium consists exclusively of fungal hyphae, whereas some may consist partly of fungal hyphae plexus and partly in between tissues of the substrate ( ergot, Sclerotinia ).
18.
The cortex ( outer tissue layer ) of the sclerotium can be used as a diagnostic character to distinguish between " D . racemosa " and small white specimens of " Collybia ".
19.
This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting structure ( called " ergot sclerotium " ).
20.
When a mature " Sclerotium " drops to the ground, the fungus remains dormant until proper conditions trigger its fruiting phase ( onset of spring, rain period, need of fresh temperatures during winter, etc . ).
