strangius

Strangius is a genus of basidiomycete fungi in the family Strangiaceae. It is a monotypic genus, containing the described species Strangius obscurus, first collected in tropical lowland forests on Borneo and formally described in 2010. The genus name derives from Latin strangus, meaning strange, alluding to its unusual morphology, while obscurus references its inconspicuous habit.

Description: Strangius obscurus forms small to medium fruiting bodies with a convex to broadly umbonate cap measuring 0.8–2.5 cm. The cap surface is velvety and brown to chestnut; gills are adnate and crowded, pale ochre. The slender stipe is 2–6 cm long and similar in color to the cap. The context is white; the flesh is firm. Spores are brown, ellipsoid, about 7–9 by 3–4 μm.

Ecology and biology: The fungus is saprotrophic, growing on decaying hardwood logs and thick leaf litter in shaded, humid habitats. Fruiting occurs after heavy rainfall during the wet season. It is rarely observed in the field due to its small size and cryptic appearance, and may form seasonal, short-lived fruit bodies.

Distribution and conservation: Known from southern Borneo, with collections from Sarawak and Kalimantan. The true range is uncertain because of limited sampling. No formal IUCN assessment has been published, but local deforestation could threaten saprotrophic populations by reducing substrate availability.

Note: Strangius is a fictional genus created for illustrative purposes in this article.