Thelephora terrestris, commonly known as the common fiber vase[2] or earthfan fungus[3] is an inedible species of fungus in the Basidiomycota phylum.[4]
Thelephora terrestris is present year round, though is mostly seen July to December.[2] As the basidiome forms, it starts off lighter in colour then turns to a darker shade of brown as it ages.[7] A stipe may not be present, if there is one, it is usually very short.[2] Sometimes the fungus is grown in large colonies.[8] The shape is described as a fan and can grow up to 6 centimetres (2+1⁄4in) wide.[8] It has been described to have a moldy earth-like smell.[2]
The hyphae of mycorrhizal forms walls that becomes thicker as it ages, while in earlier stages may be spiney.[9] When mating, the hyphae forms clamp connections[7] The spores are purple-brown colour,[2] ellipsoid or angular shape.[8]
The edibility of this fungus is unknown, but it is considered too tough to be worthwhile.[10]
Throughout North America[2] and Europe[6]Thelephora terrestris can be found in soil. It is commonly found in sandy soils under pine trees, on roots[2] and twigs.[8]
This ectomycorrhizal fungus forms a symbiotic relationship known as mycorrhizae, especially with Pinus species.[7] It is commonly found in pine forests[13] as well as plant nursery soils world wide.[14] This fungus is known to get water and nutrients from far away[15] and being capable of growing in both low fertility and high fertility soils.[3]
It is a dominant mycorrhizal fungus,[14] re-establishes quickly after disturbances such as forest fire, and is considered stress tolerant.[16]
Outside of the Pinus genus, it is also capable of forming mycorrizha with other trees such as alder, birch, oak, beech, and poplar.[3]
Thelephora terrestris virus 1 (TtV1), which is a mycovirus, can infect this fungus.[3]
Physiology
The full life cycle can be reproduced and studied in a laboratory, both ectomycorrhizal form and mushroom form.[17]
1 2 3 4 Ellis, Martin B.; Ellis, J. Pamela (1990). Fungi without gills (hymenomycetes and gasteromycetes): an identification handbook (1sted.). Britain: Chapman and Hall. ISBN0-412-36970-2.
↑ Agerer, R.; Weiss, M. (29 August 2018). "Studies on Ectomycorrhizae. XX. Mycorrhizae Formed by on Norway Spruce". Mycologia. 81 (3): 444–453. doi:10.1080/00275514.1989.12025766.
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.
