Gomphus pallidus is Hawai`i's only cantharelloid species. Not a true agaric, we are showing it here because it is arguably the most common fleshy basidiomycete encountered in guava thickets throughout the Hawaiian Islands. First described from Japan, the species was probably introduced into the Islands along with Japanese vascular plants. Although the species is ectotrophic with fagaceous trees in Japan, in Hawai`i it is restricted to growth in association with Psidium in the Myrtaceae. Whether Psidium is ectotrophic in Hawai`i is unknown. The only potentially ectotrophic basidiomycete taxa found in association with pure stands of Psidium are Gomphus pallidus and several species of Ramaria .
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