Tolypocladium Fungus

Description:

This fungus is a parasite of the deer truffle pictured in the last two photos. The Deer Truffle is pictured next to the Tolypocladium in the third photo and also cut open in the last photo. I am so fascinated by this relationship, as essentially the fungus is stealing nutrients from another fungus, which is sharing nutrients with a tree. Spotting for the pictured deer truffle: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/77...

Habitat:

Sandy ground near an oak tree at Sweetwater Preserve. Previous times I have found this fungus, it has also been in similar habitats with lots of white sand and some oaks and pines nearby.

Notes:

The deer truffle is an undescribed species from Elaphomyces muricatus group.