Phlegmacium ponderosum

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Phlegmacium ponderosum
Cortinarius ponderosus AR.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Cortinariaceae
Genus: Phlegmacium
Species:
P. ponderosum
Binomial name
Phlegmacium ponderosum
(A.H.Sm.) Niskanen & Liimat. (2022)
Synonyms
  • Cortinarius ponderosus A.H.Sm. (1939)
Phlegmacium ponderosum
Information icon.svg
Gills icon.png Gills on hymenium
Convex cap icon.svg Cap is convex
Adnate gills icon2.svg Hymenium is adnate
Bare stipe icon.svg Stipe is bare
Transparent spore print icon.svg
 Spore print is yellow
Mycorrhizal fungus.svgEcology is mycorrhizal
Mycomorphbox Caution.pngEdibility is not recommended

Phlegmacium ponderosum, also known as the Ponderous Cortinarius, is a large species of mushroom producing fungus in the family Cortinariaceae. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

It was described in 1939 by the American mycologist Alexander H. Smith who classified it as Cortinarius ponderosus. [2]

In 2022 the species was transferred from Cortinarius and reclassified as Phlegmacium ponderosum based on genomic data. [3]

Etymology

The specific epithet ponderosum (originally ponderosus) is named for the Pinus ponderosa trees which Smith observed the mushrooms growing under. [2]

Description

This mushroom is one of the largest mushrooms in the family Cortinariaceae, with a convex cap that ranges from 10–30 cm (4–12 in) [4] and becomes plane in age. It often has an olive metallic tinge, and the surface is viscid, often with small rusty brown scales. [4] The margin is ocher and remains inrolled until the mushroom is fully mature. The flesh of the mushroom is yellow-white, thick and firm, with a mild to sour odor. [4] The gills are rusty brown, adnate [4] and slightly decurrent. The stalk is 8–20 cm (3–8 in) thick, 4–10 cm wide, and bulbous at the base. [4] It has a slimy yellow universal veil, and the cortina leaves a rusty brown hairy area on the upper stalk. The spores are brown and elliptical. [4]

Its edibility is unknown, but it is not recommended due to its similarity to deadly poisonous species. [4]

Similar species

Cortinarius infractus is a similar species that usually has a smaller cap. [4] Boletus edulis also has a thick stem.

Habitat and distribution

Smith observed the mushrooms growing under Pinus ponderosa and Quercus (Oak) species near Cave City in Oregon and under Spruce trees near Crescent City, California. [2]

Spores 1000x Cortinarius ponderosus spores 1000x.jpg
Spores 1000x

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Species Fungorum - Phlegmacium ponderosum (A.H. Sm.) Niskanen & Liimat". www.speciesfungorum.org. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  2. 1 2 3 Smith, Alexander H. (1939). "Studies in the Genus Cortinarius I". Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium. 2. Ann Arbor: University Herbarium, University of Michigan: 6 – via biodiversitylibrary.org.
  3. ↑ Liimatainen, Kare; Kim, Jan T.; Pokorny, Lisa; Kirk, Paul M.; Dentinger, Bryn; Niskanen, Tuula (2022-01-01). "Taming the beast: a revised classification of Cortinariaceae based on genomic data". Fungal Diversity. 112 (1): 89–170. doi:10.1007/s13225-022-00499-9. hdl: 2299/25409 . ISSN   1878-9129.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 261–262. ISBN   978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC   797915861.
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