Spiniger state of Heterobasidion species

Mitosporic fungus. Hyphomycetes.

Spiniger species comprise a very small proportion of the fungal biota. This genus is interesting because it is a conidial state of a macrofungus, a polypore called Heterobasidion. (Polypores are bracket fungi usually seen on dead or dying logs in the forest.) No information is available regarding health effects, or toxicity. Allergenicity has not been studied. May be identified on surfaces by tape lifts, tease mounts from bulk samples, and in air by culturable (Andersen) sampling. (Spores do not have distinctive morphology and would be categorized as "other colorless" on spore trap samples.)