Exidia thuretiana

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Exidia thuretiana
2009-01-10 Exidia thuretiana 1.jpg
Exidia thuretiana
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Auriculariaceae
Genus: Exidia
Species:
E. thuretiana
Binomial name
Exidia thuretiana
(Lév.) Fr. (1874)
Synonyms

Tremella thuretiana Lév. (1848)

Exidia thuretiana (common name white brain) 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was originally found growing on beech in France and was described in 1848 by Joseph-Henri Léveillé as Tremella thuretiana. [1] It was subsequently transferred to the genus Exidia by Fries in 1874. [2]

Donk preferred the name Exidia albida (Huds.) Bref. for this species, [3] but most later authors have followed Reid in considering E. albida a nomen dubium (name of uncertain application) that might originally have referred to any whitish or transparent jelly fungus. [4]

The epithet "thuretiana" compliments botanist Gustave Thuret, owner of the Château de Rentilly, in the grounds of which E. thuretiana was first collected. The recommended English name is "white brain". [5]

Description

Fruit bodies are smooth, opaque, and gelatinous. 2009-01-10 Exidia thuretiana 3 cropped.jpg
Fruit bodies are smooth, opaque, and gelatinous.

Exidia thuretiana forms shallowly pulvinate (cushion-shaped), gelatinous fruit bodies that individually measure 0.2 to 1 centimetre (1⁄8 to 3⁄8 inch) in diameter. [6] The fruit bodies quickly coalesce, often running along the underside of branches and extending up to 10 cm (4 in) or more. They typically appear undulating or pleated and are whitish, occasionally with ochre or pinkish tints. The upper, spore-bearing surface (hymenium) is smooth and opaque, but is frequently furrowed and folded. It can have a pruinose (powder-like) coating. With age, the hymenium becomes a thin, horny, yellowish film. [7] The spore print is white. [8] The fungus does not have any distinct taste or odor; it is inedible. [6]

Microscopic characters

The microscopic characters are typical of the genus Exidia . The basidia are ellipsoid, longitudinally septate, and measure 14–20 x 8.5–12  μm. The spores are allantoid (sausage-shaped), with dimensions of 13–18 x 5.5–7 μm. [8] hyphae have a diameter ranging from 1 to 2.5 μm. [7]

Similar species

Fruit bodies of Myxarium nucleatum are similarly coloured, but are typically pustular or lobed (never appearing pleated) and usually contain conspicuous, white, granular inclusions. Microscopically Myxarium nucleatum can be distinguished by its stalked basidia. [4]

Habitat and distribution

Exidia thuretiana is a wood-rotting species, typically found on dead attached or fallen branches. It was originally recorded on beech and frequently occurs on this substrate, but is also known from other broadleaf trees and shrubs, including oak, hazel, ash, and apple. [4] Exidia thuretiana typically fruits in autumn and winter. It is widely distributed in Europe, North Africa, and northern Asia. [8] [9] It has been collected from Greenland. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tremella fuciformis</i> Species of edible fungus

Tremella fuciformis is a species of fungus; it produces white, frond-like, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread, especially in the tropics, where it can be found on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. This fungus is commercially cultivated and is one of the most popular fungi in the cuisine and medicine of China. T. fuciformis is commonly known as snow fungus, snow ear, silver ear fungus, white jelly mushroom, and white cloud ears.

<i>Tremella mesenterica</i> Species of jelly fungus

Tremella mesenterica is a common jelly fungus in the family Tremellaceae of the Agaricomycotina. The gelatinous, orange-yellow fruit body of the fungus, which can grow up to 7.5 cm (3 in) diameter, has a convoluted or lobed surface that is greasy or slimy when damp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auriculariales</span> Order of fungi

The Auriculariales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. Species within the order were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 200 species are known worldwide, placed in six or more families, though the status of these families is currently uncertain. All species in the Auriculariales are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auriculariaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Auriculariaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 100 species are known worldwide. All are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyaloriaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Hyaloriaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia and, as such, were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi". All appear to be saprotrophic, growing on dead wood or plant remains. Less than 30 species are currently included within the Hyaloriaceae, but the family has not been extensively researched.

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

Exidia glandulosa, commonly known as black witches' butter, black jelly roll, or warty jelly fungus, is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached branches of oak. The fruit bodies 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 nigricans</i> Species of fungus

Exidia nigricans is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It 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.

<i>Sebacina</i> Genus of fungi

Sebacina is a genus of fungi in the family Sebacinaceae. Its species are mycorrhizal, forming a range of associations with trees and other plants. Basidiocarps are produced on soil and litter, sometimes partly encrusting stems of living plants. The fruit bodies are cartilaginous to rubbery-gelatinous and variously effused (corticioid) to coral-shaped (clavarioid). The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.

<i>Guepinia</i> Genus of fungi

Guepinia is a genus of fungus in the Auriculariales order. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Guepinia helvelloides, commonly known as the apricot jelly. The fungus produces salmon-pink, ear-shaped, gelatinous fruit bodies that grow solitarily or in small tufted groups on soil, usually associated with buried rotting wood. The fruit bodies are up to 10 cm (4 in) tall and up to 17 cm wide; the stalks are not well-differentiated from the cap. It has a white spore deposit, and the oblong to ellipsoid spores measure 9–11 by 5–6 micrometers.

<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>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 auricula-judae</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia auricula-judae, commonly known as wood ear, jelly ear, or more historically, Jew's ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are brown, gelatinous, and have a noticeably ear-like shape. They grow on wood, especially elder. The specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree.

<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>Naematelia aurantia</i> Species of yellow, parasitic fungus

Naematelia aurantia is a species of fungus producing yellow, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread in north temperate regions and is parasitic on another species of fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees. It is commonly called golden ear in North America.

<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>Exidia saccharina</i> Species of fungus

Exidia saccharina, commonly known as the pine jelly, is an orange-brown jelly fungus that grows saprotrophically on dead conifers. It is found most commonly throughout northern Europe.

<i>Tremella globispora</i> Species of fungus

Tremella globispora is a species of fungus in the family Tremellaceae. It produces hyaline, pustular, gelatinous basidiocarps and is parasitic on pyrenomycetous fungi on dead herbaceous stems and wood. It was originally described from England.

<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.

Exidia umbrinella is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and turbinate (top-shaped). It grows on dead attached twigs and branches of conifers in Europe.

References

  1. ↑ Léveillé JH. (1848). "Fragments mycologiques". Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique. III (in French). 9: 119–144.
  2. ↑ Fries EM. (1874). Hymenomycetes europaei (in Latin). Typis descripsit ed. Berling. p. 694.
  3. ↑ Donk MA. (1966). "Check list of European hymenomycetous heterobasidiae". Persoonia. 4: 145–335.
  4. 1 2 3 Reid DA. (1970). "New or interesting records of British hymenomycetes. IV". Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 55 (3): 413–441. doi:10.1016/s0007-1536(70)80062-6.
  5. ↑ "Recommended English Names for Fungi in the UK" (PDF). British Mycological Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  6. 1 2 Jordan M. (2004). The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 371. ISBN   0-7112-2378-5.
  7. 1 2 Rea C. (1922). British Basidiomycetae: A Handbook to the Larger British Fungi. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 735.
  8. 1 2 3 Breitenbach J, Kranzlin F (1985). Fungi of Switzerland: Non Gilled Fungi: Heterobasidiomycetes, Aphyllophorales, Gastromycetes. Vol. 2. Lucerne: Verlag Mykologia. p. 64. ISBN   3-85604-220-2.
  9. ↑ Govorova OK. (1998). "The genus Exidia (Heterobasidiomycetes) from the Russian Far East". Mikologiya i Fitopatologiya. 32 (2): 11–13.
  10. ↑ Borgen T, Elborne SA, Knudsen H (2000). "A checklist of the Greenland basidiomycetes". In Boertmann D, Knudsen H (eds.). Arctic and Alpine Mycology 6. Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Arcto-Alpine Mycology, Greenland, 11–21 August 2000. Meddelelser om Grønland Bioscience. Greenland: Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 37–59. ISBN   978-87-635-1277-0.
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