Neolentinus ponderosus

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Neolentinus ponderosus
Neolentinus ponderosus 232623.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Gloeophyllales
Family: Gloeophyllaceae
Genus: Neolentinus
Species:
N. ponderosus
Binomial name
Neolentinus ponderosus
(O.K.Mill.) Redhead & Ginns (1985)
Synonyms [1]
  • Lentinus ponderosusO.K.Mill. (1965)
Neolentinus ponderosus
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svgDepressed cap icon.svg Cap is convex or depressed
Decurrent gills icon2.svg Hymenium is decurrent
Bare stipe icon.svg Stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
Spore print is white
Saprotrophic fungus.svgEcology is saprotrophic
Mycomorphbox Choice.pngEdibility is choice

Neolentinus ponderosus, commonly known as the giant sawgill, [2] or ponderous lentinus, [3] is a species of fungus in the family Gloeophyllaceae. Found in western North America, it was originally described in 1965 as a species of Lentinus by American mycologist Orson K. Miller.

Contents

Taxonomy

The fungus was first described as Lentinellus montanus by Orson K. Miller, based on collections that he had made in Idaho. [4] In 1985 it was transferred to Neolentinus , a segregate genus created for Lentinus -type fungi that cause a brown rot in wood. [5] The specific epithet ponderosa derives from the Latin word for "heavy". [6]

Description

Closeup of the serrated gill edge Neolentinus ponderosus 147223.jpg
Closeup of the serrated gill edge

The fruit bodies have convex to flattened caps ranging from 5–33 cm (2–13 in) in diameter. The caps have small cinnamon-brown scales (squamules) on the surface and a margin that is usually curved inward initially. The narrow gills have an adnate attachment to the stipe and are closely spaced, with intervening lamellulae (short gills) that extend about two-thirds of the distance to the stipe. The gill edges are serrated (notched like a saw), a feature that inspired the mushroom's common name. Gills are initially whitish before aging to light buff to light orange. The stipe measures 2.5–18 cm (1.0–7.1 in) long by 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) thick. Its reddish-brown surface is made of small scales that are less dense in the upper half, where it has a more whitish or buff color. [7] [8]

Fruit bodies produce a dull white to buff spore print. Microscopically, the spores are somewhat spindle-shaped when viewed from the side, and elliptical viewed from the front; they measure 8–10.5 by 3.5–4.4  μm and are inamyloid. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are thin-walled and club-shaped, four-spored, and measure 26–36 by 5–8.8 μm. The cystidia on both the faces and edges of the gills are thin-walled, hyaline (translucent), narrowly club-shaped, and measure 26–36 by 5–8.8 μm. The cap cuticle comprises threadlike hyphae with a diameter of 4.4–8 μm, while the cap flesh is made of interwoven hyphae (both thick- and thin-walled) measuring 2.5–6 μm. Clamp connections are present in the hyphae. [7]

The young mushrooms are edible, [9] although they tend to become tough when mature. [10] The flesh has a fruit or indistinct odor and a mild taste. [7] They are prized by the Rarámuri Indians of Mexico. [11]

Habitat and distribution

Neolentinus ponderosus is a saprophytic species, and grows on the stumps and logs of conifers, particularly ponderosa pine. It causes a brown rot in wood, whereby it breaks down the hemicellulose and cellulose to cause a brown discoloration, and the subsequent cracking of the wood into roughly cubical pieces. Fruit bodies grow singly or in small clusters, [9] and usually prefer open spots with direct sunlight. The range of the fungus is restricted to the Pacific Northwest region of western North America. [4] Fruiting occurs in late spring, or later (summer) in mountainous locales. [9]

Similar species

The species resembles Neolentinus lepideus and Catathelasma imperiale . [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Neolentinus</i> Genus of fungi

Neolentinus is a genus of wood-decaying agarics with tough fruit bodies composed of dimitic tissue, serrated lamella edges, and nonamyloid white binucleate basidiospores among other features. It was segregated from Lentinus in the broad taxonomic sense, hence the derivation of the name. Biologically Neolentinus species produce a brown rot type of decay of wood, whereas Lentinus causes a white rot. Molecular phylogenetic analysis shows that the two genera are unrelated. Neolentinus is phylogenetically allied to other brown rot genera such as Gloeophyllum, Heliocybe, and Veluticeps. A new order, the Gloeophyllales, has been described for these fungi. Heliocybe had been placed in synonymy but it differs phylogenetically and anatomically by the lack of clamp connections that all Neolentinus produce on their generative hyphae.

<i>Neolentinus lepideus</i> Species of fungus

Neolentinus lepideus is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Neolentinus, until recently also widely known as Lentinus lepideus. Common names for it include scaly sawgill, scaly lentinus and train wrecker.

<i>Crepidotus versutus</i> Species of fungus

Crepidotus versutus, commonly known as the evasive agaric, is a species of fungus in the family Crepidotaceae. It is saprobic on wood, like other Crepidotus species, but it can also decompose herbaceous forest litter. The species is characterized by large, punctate, ellipsoid spores, and the white, hairy pileus.

<i>Gymnopilus punctifolius</i> Species of fungus

Gymnopilus punctifolius is a species of mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae found in North America.

<i>Panellus stipticus</i> Species of fungus in the family Mycenaceae found in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America

Panellus stipticus, commonly known as the bitter oyster, the astringent panus, the luminescent panellus, or the stiptic fungus, is a species of fungus. It belongs in the family Mycenaceae, and the type species of the genus Panellus. A common and widely distributed species, it is found in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, where it grows in groups or dense overlapping clusters on the logs, stumps, and trunks of deciduous trees, especially beech, oak, and birch. During the development of the fruit bodies, the mushrooms start out as tiny white knobs, which, over a period of one to three months, develop into fan- or kidney-shaped caps that measure up to 3 cm (1.2 in) broad. The caps are orange-yellow to brownish, and attached to the decaying wood by short stubby stalks that are connected off-center or on the side of the caps. The fungus was given its current scientific name in 1879, but has been known by many names since French mycologist Jean Bulliard first described it as Agaricus stypticus in 1783. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed P. stipticus to have a close genetic relationship with members of the genus Mycena.

<i>Lactarius argillaceifolius</i> Species of fungus

Lactarius argillaceifolius is a species of fungus in the family Russulaceae. The mushrooms produced by the fungus have convex to flattened drab lilac-colored caps that are up to 18 cm (7.1 in) wide. The cream-colored gills are closely spaced together and extend slightly down the length of the stem, which is up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long by 3.5 cm (1.4 in) thick. The mushroom produces an off-white latex when injured that stains the mushroom tissue brownish.

<i>Lentinus brumalis</i> Species of fungi

Lentinus brumalis is an inedible species of fungus in the family Polyporaceae. Its common name is the winter polypore. The epithet brumalis means "occurring in the winter", describing how this species tends to fruit during winter. It causes white rot on dead hardwood, and is distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere in temperate and boreal zones.

<i>Collybia tuberosa</i> Species of fungus

Collybia tuberosa, commonly known as the lentil shanklet or the appleseed coincap, is an inedible species of fungus in the family Tricholomataceae, and the type species of the genus Collybia. Like the two other members of its genus, it lives on the decomposing remains of other fleshy mushrooms. The fungus produces small whitish fruit bodies with caps up to 1 cm (0.4 in) wide held by thin stems up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long. On the underside of the cap are closely spaced white gills that are broadly attached to the stem. At the base of the stem, embedded in the substrate is a small reddish-brown sclerotium that somewhat resembles an apple seed. The appearance of the sclerotium distinguishes it from the other two species of Collybia, which are otherwise very similar in overall appearance. C. tuberosa is found in Europe, North America, and Japan, growing in dense clusters on species of Lactarius and Russula, boletes, hydnums, and polypores.

<i>Hygrophorus purpurascens</i> Species of fungus

Hygrophorus purpurascens, commonly known as the purple-red waxy cap, is a species of agaric fungus in the family Hygrophoraceae. Its cap has a pink background color with streaks of purplish red overlaid, and mature gills have red spots.

Mycena semivestipes is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae. It is found in eastern North America.

<i>Volvariella surrecta</i> Species of fungus

Volvariella surrecta, commonly known as the piggyback rosegill, is an agaric fungus in the family Pluteaceae. Although rare, the species is widely distributed, having been reported from Asia, North America, Northern Africa, Europe, and New Zealand. The fungus grows as a parasite on the fruit bodies of other gilled mushrooms, usually Clitocybe nebularis. V. surrecta mushrooms have white or greyish silky-hairy caps up to 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter, and white gills that turns pink in maturity. The stipe, also white, is up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long, and has a sack-like volva at its base.

<i>Tricholoma vaccinum</i> Fungus of the agaric genus Tricholoma

Tricholoma vaccinum, commonly known as the russet scaly tricholoma, the scaly knight, or the fuzztop, is a fungus of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It produces medium-sized fruit bodies (mushrooms) that have a distinctive hairy reddish-brown cap with a shaggy margin when young. The cap, which can reach a diameter of up to 6.5 cm (2.6 in) wide, breaks up into flattened scales in maturity. It has cream-buff to pinkish gills with brown spots. Its fibrous, hollow stipe is white above and reddish brown below, and measures 4 to 7.5 cm long. Although young fruit bodies have a partial veil, it does not leave a ring on the stipe.

<i>Mycena atkinsoniana</i> Species of fungus

Mycena atkinsoniana is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae. It is one of the so-called "bleeding mycenas" that will ooze yellow to orange juice when injured. Other distinguishing features include the upper stem surface that is decorated with tiny purplish-brown fibers, and the gills, which are pale yellow with maroon edges. The reddish-brown caps are smooth with a grooved margin, and up to 3 cm (1.2 in) wide. Mycena atkinsoniana is known from the United States and Canada, where it grows scattered or in groups on leaf litter in forests during the summer and autumn. It was originally described from collections associated with beech, but it is also frequently found under eastern North American oaks.

<i>Cortinarius camphoratus</i> Species of fungus

Cortinarius camphoratus, commonly known as the goatcheese webcap, is an agaric fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. The fungus is found in Europe and North America, where its fruit bodies (mushrooms) grow on the ground in a mycorrhizal association with spruce and firs in coniferous forests. Mushrooms are characterized by pale blue lilac colors when young, and a strong distinctive odor. Sources disagree as to the edibility of the mushroom, but they are generally not recommended for eating.

<i>Tricholoma pullum</i> Species of fungus

Tricholoma pullum is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. Described as new to science in 1989, it is found in eastern North America.

<i>Tricholoma vernaticum</i> Species of fungus

Tricholoma vernaticum is an agaric fungus of the genus Tricholoma native to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The fungus was originally described in 1976 as a species of Armillaria when that genus was more inclusive; it received its current name twenty years later. The stout fruit bodies (mushrooms) have moist white to grayish caps, a membranous ring on the stipe, and an odor resembling cucumbers. Mycorrhizal with conifers, the fungus fruits in the spring or early summer, with its mushrooms appearing on the ground singly or in groups at high elevations, often at the edge of melting snowbanks. The edibility of the mushroom is unknown, but it has a strong unpleasant odor and a mealy taste.

<i>Tubaria punicea</i> Species of fungus

Tubaria punicea is a rare species of agaric fungus in the family Tubariaceae. It is found on the west coast of North America, where it grows on the bases and in hollows of madrone.

<i>Lentinellus montanus</i> Species of fungus

Lentinellus montanus is a species of agaric fungus in the family Auriscalpiaceae. It is found at high elevations in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, where it fruits singly or in clumps on decaying conifer wood.

<i>Pholiota nubigena</i> Species of fungus

Pholiota nubigena, commonly known as the gastroid pholiota or the bubble gum fungus, is a species of secotioid fungus in the family Strophariaceae. It is found in mountainous areas of the western United States, where it grows on rotting conifer wood, often fir logs. It fruits in spring, often under snow, and early summer toward the end of the snowmelt period in high mountain forests. Fruit bodies appear similar to unopened mushrooms, measuring 1–4 centimetres tall with 1–2.4 cm diameter caps that are whitish to brownish. They have a short but distinct whitish stipe that extend through the internal spore mass (gleba) of the fruit body into the cap. The gleba consists of irregular chambers made of contorted gills that are brownish in color. A whitish, cottony partial veil is present in young specimens, but it often disappears in age and does not leave a ring on the stipe.

<i>Xeromphalina kauffmanii</i> Species of fungus

Xeromphalina kauffmanii is a species of agaric fungus in the family Mycenaceae. Found in North America, Costa Rica, and Japan, it was described as new to science in 1953. The type collection was made in Chelsea, Michigan, in June 1940. The specific epithet kauffmanii honors American mycologist Calvin Henry Kauffman.

References

  1. "Species synonymy: Neolentinus ponderosus (O.K. Mill.) Redhead & Ginns". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  2. McKnight KH (1998). A Field Guide to Mushrooms: North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 160. ISBN   0-395-91090-0.
  3. Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi (Second ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN   978-0-89815-169-5.
  4. 1 2 Miller Jr OK. (1965). "Three new species of lignicolous agarics in the Tricholomataceae". Mycologia. 57 (6): 933–45. doi:10.2307/3756893. JSTOR   3756893.
  5. Redhead SA, Ginns J (1985). "A reappraisal of agaric genera associated with brown rots of wood". Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan. 26 (3): 349–81 (see p. 357).
  6. Evenson VS (1997). Mushrooms of Colorado and the Southern Rocky Mountains. Big Earth Publishing. p. 112. ISBN   978-1-56579-192-3.
  7. 1 2 3 Bessette A, Miller OK Jr, Bessette AR, Miller HR (1995). Mushrooms of North America in Color: A Field Guide Companion to Seldom-Illustrated Fungi. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. pp. 118–9. ISBN   978-0-8156-2666-4.
  8. 1 2 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 142–143. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
  9. 1 2 3 Davis RM, Sommer R, Menge JA (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. University of California Press. p. 142. ISBN   978-0-520-27108-1.
  10. Lincoff G. (1981). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. New York, New York: Knopf. p. 767. ISBN   978-0-394-51992-0.
  11. Moreno-Fuentes A, Cifuentes J, Bye R, Valenzuela R (1996). "Kute-mo'ko-a: un hongo comestible de los indios raramuri de México" [Kute-mo ́ko-a: An edible mushroom of the Raramuri indians of Mexico]. Revista Mexicana de Micología (in Spanish). 12: 31–9.