Gymnopilus ventricosus

Gymnopilus ventricosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Hymenogastraceae
Genus:	Gymnopilus
Species:	G. ventricosus
Binomial name
Gymnopilus ventricosus (Earle) Hesler (1969)
Synonyms [1]
Pholiota ventricosaEarle (1902)

Gymnopilus ventricosus
Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is convex
	Hymenium is adnexed or adnate
	Spore print is ochre
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is inedible

Gymnopilus ventricosus, commonly known as the jumbo gym ^[2] or western jumbo gym, ^[3] is a species of mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae. It was first described from the Stanford University campus by Franklin Sumner Earle as Pholiota ventricosa in 1902.

Description

The cap is 5 to 30 cm (2 to 11+3⁄4 in) or larger in diameter. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]} The stalk is thick and bulbous, with a membranous ring. ^[6] This species contains no psilocybin, and is considered inedible; it is very bitter. ^{[4] [9] [2]}

Habitat and ecology

Gymnopilus ventricosus grows on dead wood. It is found on both conifers and hardwoods. ^[10]

See also

• Fungi portal

• List of Gymnopilus species

References

1. "Gymnopilus ventricosus (Earle) Hesler 1969". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
2. Arora, David (February 1, 1991). All that the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms. p. 139. ISBN   9780898153880.
3. Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (September 1, 2024). Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest. Humboldt County, CA: Backcountry Press. p. 137. ISBN   9781941624197.
4. Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fungi of Coastal Northern California. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 152. ISBN   9781607748182. LCCN   2015027853. OCLC   956478776.
5. Hesler LR. (1969). North American Species of Gymnopilus (Mycologia Memoir Series: No 3). Knoxville, Tennessee: Lubrecht & Cramer Ltd. pp. 20–21. ISBN   0-945345-39-9.
6. Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 182. ISBN   978-0-88192-935-5.
7. Westerhoff, Jenny (12 September 2023). "Big Laughing Gym (Laughing Jim): Comprehensive Identification Guide - Mushroom Appreciation". www.mushroom-appreciation.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
8. Stevens, Michael Wood & Fred. "California Fungi: Gymnopilus ventricosus". www.mykoweb.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
9. Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America . Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p.  198. ISBN   978-1-55407-651-2.
10. Stevens, Michael Wood & Fred. "California Fungi: Gymnopilus ventricosus". www.mykoweb.com. Retrieved 2025-10-20.