Balsamia oregonensis

Balsamia oregonensis
Barssia oregonensis being held
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Helvellaceae
Genus:	Balsamia
Species:	B. oregonensis
Binomial name
Balsamia oregonensis (Gilkey) K.Hansen & X.H.Wang [1]
Synonyms [1]
Barssia oregonensisGilkey

Balsamia oregonensis is a species of ascomycete fungus in the family Helvellaceae. It is commonly found in Oregon, which it is named for.

Taxonomy

Balsamia oregonensis was first described by Helen Gilkey in 1925, ^[2] who named it in honor of Professor H. P. Barss who first collected B. oregonensis in Oregon. ^[3]

While originally assigned to genus Barssia , this species was reclassified along with much of Barssiainto the Balsamia genus. ^{[4] [5]}

Description

Balsamia oregonensis is reddish-yellow in color and between 1 and 2.5 centimetres (1⁄2 and 1 in) across. ^{[6] [7] [2]} Its exterior is roundish to somewhat flat and usually slightly lobed. ^[8] It has fewer distinct warts than most other truffles. ^[8] The entirety of the exterior is covered in coarse hyphae.^{[ citation needed ]} The interior of B. oregonensis consists of whitish-gray canals. ^[8]

Balsamia oregonensis releases its fungal spores seasonally in the spring and into early summertime. ^[8]

Distribution and habitat

As its name suggests, B. oregonensis is primarily found in Oregon, United States, although it is not exclusive to the area. Other areas within the United States where the species can be found includes the Great Plains region. ^[9]

B. oregonensis has reportedly also been found in the Polish Tatra Mountains. ^[10]

Ecology

Balsamia oregonensis is commonly found alongside Douglas-fir trees which are considered its primary host. ^[11] This association is useful in truffling and the best way to locate B. oregonensis in the wild.

There is evidence that B. oregonensis is seasonally consumed by wild animals, such as chipmunks, within its ecosystem. ^[12]

Uses

Balsamia oregonensis is a presumably edible ^[8] species of truffle and is described as having a pleasant taste. It is not often found in large enough quantities to be considered a regular delicacy even where it is most prevalent.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "Balsamia oregonensis (Gilkey) K.Hansen & X.H.Wang". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 21 October 2024.
2. Gilkey, H.M. (1925). "Five new hypogaeous fungi". Mycologia. 17 (6): 250–254. doi:10.2307/3753891. JSTOR   3753891.
3. "Barssia genus - truffle-like fungi".
4. Hansen, K.; Schumacher, T.; Skrede, I.; Huhtinen, S.; Wang, X.-H. (2019). "Pindara revisited - evolution and generic limits in Helvellaceae". Persoonia. 42: 186–204. doi:10.3767/persoonia.2019.42.07. ISSN   0031-5850. PMC   6712539 . PMID   31551618.
5. Xu, Yu-Yan; Yan, Xiang-Yuan; Li, Ting; Fan, Li (2020). "A taxonomic reassessment of the genus Balsamia from China". MycoKeys (67): 81–94. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.67.50068 . ISSN   1314-4049. PMC   7289895 . PMID   32550792.
6. "Barssia oregonensis". ascomycete.org.
7. Gilkey, Helen M. (1939), Tuberales of North America (PDF), Oregon State College
8. Arora, David (1986) [1979]. Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp. 853–54. ISBN   978-0-89815-170-1.
9. Hawker, Lilian E. (1968). "Hypogeous Ascomycetes from Idaho". Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society.
10. Ławrynowicz, Maria; Skirgiełło, Alina (2014). "Barssia oregonensis found in the Tatra Mountains (Poland)". Acta Mycologica. 20 (2): 277–280. doi: 10.5586/am.1984.023 .
11. "Barssia oregonensis Gilkey 1925". Archived from the original on 2024-04-21.
12. Sultaire, Sean M.; Benucci, Gian Maria Niccolò; Longley, Reid; Kroll, Andrew J.; Verschuyl, Jake; Bonito, Gregory; Roloff, Gary J. (2023). "Using high-throughput sequencing to investigate summer truffle consumption by chipmunks in relation to retention forestry". Forest Ecology and Management. 549 121460. Bibcode:2023ForEM.54921460S. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121460.