cryptomerioides

Cryptomerioides is a genus of fungi in the order Agaricales. The genus was first described in 1984 by mycologist Roy Watling, who designated Cryptomerioides cystidiata as the type species. Species within this genus are characterized by their small, delicate fruiting bodies, often found growing on decaying wood or leaf litter. A key feature of Cryptomerioides is the presence of distinctive cystidia, sterile cells found within the hymenium (the spore-producing surface of the mushroom). These cystidia are often clavate or fusiform in shape and can aid in species identification. The macroscopic appearance of Cryptomerioides species can vary, but they typically have small, whitish to pale brown caps and slender stems. Their gills are usually adnate or decurrent, and the spores are generally hyaline and smooth. The exact phylogenetic placement of Cryptomerioides within Agaricales has been subject to revision as molecular data becomes available, but it is generally considered part of the Marasmiaceae family, which includes many small, saprotrophic fungi. Further research is ongoing to fully understand the diversity and ecological roles of fungi within this genus.