Exidia nigricans

Last updated

Exidia nigricans
Exidia sp.jpg
Exidia nigricans
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Auriculariaceae
Genus: Exidia
Species:
E. nigricans
Binomial name
Exidia nigricans
(With.) P. Roberts (2009)
Synonyms

Tremella nigricansWith. (1776)
Exidia applanataSchwein. (1832)
Exidia planaDonk (1966)

Contents

Exidia nigricans is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of warlock's butter. [1] It produces black, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies) and is a common, wood-rotting species throughout the Northern Hemisphere, typically growing on dead attached branches of broadleaf trees. It has been much confused with Exidia glandulosa .

Taxonomy

The species was originally described from England as Tremella nigricans by Withering in 1776, based on a phrase name published by Dillenius in 1741. It was subsequently considered a synonym of Exidia glandulosa, until Donk revised species concepts in 1966 and placed it in synonymy with E. plana. [2] Changes in the starting point for fungal nomenclature [3] delegitimized E. plana, making E. nigricans the species' earliest name. [4]

Molecular research has shown that E. nigricans has distinct DNA from E. glandulosa, despite similarities, even on a microscopic level. [5]

Common name

Both Dillenius (1741) and Withering (1776) gave the English name for this species as "Witches' butter", [4] though this name has subsequently also been applied to other gelatinous fungi, including E. glandulosa and the yellow Tremella mesenterica . It is said to be based on a folk belief that witches milk cows at night and scatter the butter they create in the process around.

Description

Exidia nigricans forms dark sepia to blackish, rubbery-gelatinous fruit bodies that are button-shaped and 1–2 centimetres (1⁄2–3⁄4 inch) across. The fruitbodies occur in clusters and quickly coalesce to form effused, irregular masses up to 20 cm (8 in) across. [6] The upper, spore-bearing surface is shiny and dotted with small pimples or pegs. The individual fruitbodies are each attached to the wood at the base. The spore print is white. [7]

Microscopic characters

Sausage shaped spores Exidia nigricans 356114654.jpg
Sausage shaped spores

The microscopic characters are typical of the genus Exidia . The basidia are ellipsoid, septate, 15–25 × 8–13 μm. The spores are allantoid (sausage-shaped), 14–19 × 4.5–5.5 μm. [7]

Similar species

Exidia glandulosa Exidia glandulosa.jpg
Exidia glandulosa

Exidia nigricans and E. glandulosa are frequently confused. The two are similar (even microscopically), but E. glandulosa produces discrete, top-shaped fruitbodies that rarely if ever coalesce. [5]

Fruitbodies of Phaeotremella foliacea and P. frondosa are typically a warmer, lighter brown, but can sometimes be dark sepia to black. The fruitbodies are gelatinous, but usually foliaceous (with flattish lobes or fronds) and never have warts or pegs on the surface. [8] Non-gelatinous, black fruit bodies on wood occur in other genera, including Annulohypoxylon , Biscogniauxia , Camarops , and Hypoxylon . [6]

Habitat and distribution

Exidia nigricans is a wood-rotting species, typically found on dead attached branches of a wide range of broadleaf trees. It persists for some while on fallen branches and logs. The species typically fruits in autumn and winter. It is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe and North America. In the latter, it can be found from November to March on the west coast, and around the year elsewhere. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jelly fungus</span> Group of fungi

Jelly fungi are a paraphyletic group of several heterobasidiomycete fungal orders from different classes of the subphylum Agaricomycotina: Tremellales, Dacrymycetales, Auriculariales and Sebacinales. These fungi are so named because their foliose, irregularly branched fruiting body is, or appears to be, the consistency of jelly. Actually, many are somewhat rubbery and gelatinous. When dried, jelly fungi become hard and shriveled; when exposed to water, they return to their original form.

<i>Exidia</i> Genus of fungi

Exidia is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The species are saprotrophic, occurring in attached or recently fallen dead wood, and produce gelatinous basidiocarps. The fruit bodies are diverse, pustular, lobed, button-shaped or cup-shaped. Several species, including the type species Exidia glandulosa, have sterile pegs or pimples on their spore-bearing surface. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and around 20 species are currently recognized worldwide. Initial molecular research indicates the genus is artificial.

<i>Exidia glandulosa</i> Species of fungus

Exidia glandulosa is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of witch's butter. In North America it has variously been called black witches' butter, black jelly roll, or warty jelly fungus. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached branches of oak. The gelatinous basidiocarps are up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide, shiny, black and blister-like, and grow singly or in clusters. Its occurrence elsewhere is uncertain because of confusion with the related species, Exidia nigricans.

<i>Exidia recisa</i> Species of fungus

Exidia recisa is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of amber jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and turbinate (top-shaped). It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of willow and is found in Europe and possibly elsewhere, though it has long been confused with the North American Exidia crenata.

<i>Exidia thuretiana</i> Species of fungus

Exidia thuretiana is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. The fruit bodies are white and gelatinous with brain-like folds. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached or fallen branches of broadleaf trees, especially beech.

<i>Myxarium nucleatum</i> Species of fungus

Myxarium nucleatum is a species of fungus in the family Hyaloriaceae. In the UK, it has been given the recommended English name of crystal brain. The fruit bodies are watery white, pustular or lobed, and gelatinous with small, white, mineral inclusions visible to the naked eye. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached or fallen branches of broadleaf trees. It is currently not clear whether collections from North America and elsewhere represent the same species.

<i>Auricularia nigricans</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia nigricans is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruitbodies} are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead wood of broadleaf trees. It is found in southern and eastern Asia, North America, South America and the Caribbean. Asian examples were formerly considered as a separate species described as Auricularia polytricha.

<i>Phaeotremella</i> Genus of fungi

Phaeotremella is a genus of fungi in the family Phaeotremellaceae. All Phaeotremella species are parasites of other fungi and produce anamorphic yeast states. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi". Fifteen or so species of Phaeotremella are currently recognized worldwide. Tremella sanguinea, shown to be a Phaeotremella species by DNA sequencing, is cultivated in China as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.

<i>Phaeotremella frondosa</i> Species of fungus

Phaeotremella frondosa is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae producing brownish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread in north temperate regions, and is parasitic on other species of fungi that grow on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees.

<i>Phaeotremella foliacea</i> Species of fungus

Phaeotremella foliacea is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae. It produces brownish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps and is parasitic on the mycelium of Stereum sanguinolentum, a fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of conifers. It is widespread in north temperate regions. In the UK it has the recommended English name leafy brain and has also been called jelly leaf and brown witch's butter. Prior to 2017, the name Tremella foliacea was also applied to similar-looking species on broadleaf trees, now distinguished as Phaeotremella frondosa and Phaeotremella fimbriata.

<i>Auricularia americana</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia americana is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae found in North America and East Asia. Its basidiocarps (fruitbodies) are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead conifer wood.

<i>Auricularia angiospermarum</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia angiospermarum is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruitbodies) are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead wood of broadleaf trees. It is a North American species and was formerly confused with Auricularia auricula-judae which is confined to Europe.

Phaeotremella fimbriata is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae. It produces blackish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps and is parasitic on the mycelium of Stereum rugosum, a fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broad-leaved trees. It is widespread in northern Europe. Prior to 2017, the species was generally considered a synonym of Tremella foliacea, but this latter species is restricted to conifers. Phaeotremella frondosa is a similar-looking but paler, brown species on broad-leaved trees and occurs in North America as well as Europe.

<i>Phaeotremella mycophaga</i> Species of fungus

Phaeotremella mycophaga is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae. It produces small, pustular, gelatinous basidiocarps on the hymenium of the corticioid fungi Aleurodiscus amorphus and A. grantii on conifers.

<i>Exidia crenata</i> Species of fungus

Exidia crenata is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It has the English name of amber jelly roll. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, brown to orange-brown, and turbinate (top-shaped). It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of broadleaved trees and is found in North America.

<i>Exidia repanda</i> Species of fungus

Exidia repanda is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of birch jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and button-shaped. It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of birch and has been recorded from Europe, North America, and Japan.

<i>Exidia candida</i> Species of fungus

Exidia candida is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, whitish, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused and corrugated.

Exidia purpureocinerea is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, densely covered in small spines, purple-grey, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused. The species occurs in southern Africa on dead wood.

<i>Exidia pithya</i> Species of fungus

Exidia pithya is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, black, and button-shaped at first, later coalescing and drying to form tar-like patches. The species grows on dead branches of conifers in continental Europe.

Exidia zelleri is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, pale violaceous grey to grey-brown, button-shaped at first then coalescing and becoming irregularly effused. It grows on dead branches of broadleaved trees and is known from north-western North America.

References

  1. ↑ Holden L. (2024). "English names for fungi". British Mycological Society . Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  2. ↑ Donk, M.A. (1966). Check list of European hymenomycetous heterobasidiae. Persoonia 4: 145–335.
  3. ↑ International code for botanical nomenclature http://ibot.sav.sk/icbn/main.htm
  4. 1 2 Roberts, P. (2009). Exidia nigricans: a new and legitimate name for Exidia plana. Mycotaxon 109: 219–220.
  5. 1 2 Weiss, M & Oberwinkler, F. (2001). Phylogenetic relationships in Auriculariales and related groups – hypotheses derived from nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Mycological Research 105: 403–415.
  6. 1 2 3 Audubon (2023). Mushrooms of North America. Knopf. p. 111. ISBN   978-0-593-31998-7.
  7. 1 2 Breitenbach, J. & Kranzlin, F. (1986). Fungi of Switzerland Vol. 2: 65 (as E. glandulosa)
  8. ↑ Spirin V, Malysheva V, Yurkov A, Miettinen O, Larsson KH (2018). "Studies in the Phaeotremella foliacea group (Tremellomycetes, Basidiomycota)". Mycological Progress. 17 (4): 451–466. doi:10.1007/s11557-017-1371-4. hdl: 10138/326186 . S2CID   44901453.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.