Volva (mycology)

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The volva is the prominent cup-shaped feature at the base of this Amanita caesarea. Amanita caesarea.JPG
The volva is the prominent cup-shaped feature at the base of this Amanita caesarea .
A simplified diagram of an agaric-type basidioma in (A) the early development stage, and (B) after the body is fully expanded. (1) is the universal veil, the outer layer protecting the developing basidioma; (4) is the volva, the remnant of the universal veil at the base of the basidioma. Basidioma agaric veils.png
A simplified diagram of an agaric-type basidioma in (A) the early development stage, and (B) after the body is fully expanded. (1) is the universal veil, the outer layer protecting the developing basidioma; (4) is the volva, the remnant of the universal veil at the base of the basidioma.

In mycology, a volva is a cup-like structure at the base of a mushroom that is a remnant of the universal veil, [1] or the remains of the peridium that encloses the immature fruit bodies of gasteroid fungi. [2] This macrofeature is important in wild mushroom identification because it is an easily observed, taxonomically significant feature that frequently signifies a member of Amanitaceae. This has particular importance due to the disproportionately high number of deadly poisonous species contained within that family.

A mushroom's volva is often partially or completely buried in the ground, and therefore care must be taken to check for its presence when identifying mushrooms. [3] Cutting or pulling mushrooms and attempting to identify them later without having noted this feature could be a fatal error.

Whilst a volva is a feature best known from Amanita species and stinkhorns such as the Phallaceae family and others in the Phallales order, it may also occur with other genera including:

Some other species such as Leucoagaricus volvatus, Leucoagaricus bivelatus also display a volva despite this not being a typical trait for these genera. [4]

The majority of the almost 300 species described In the Conocybe genus do not have a volva but there are a small number of species in Conocybe section Singerella which possess a small volva, though in some it may not be immediately evident as they can remain buried in dung. Conocybe species with a volva include: C. anthuriae , [5] C. corneri , [6] C hornana , [5] C. locellina , [5] C. vaginata, [7] C. volvata , [8] C. volviornata, [9] C. volviradicata. [10]

See also

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Conocybe vaginata is a species of mushroom-producing fungus in the family Bolbitiaceae.

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Conocybe crispella is a species of mushroom-producing fungus in the family Bolbitiaceae.

References

  1. ↑ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi (10th ed.). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. p. 727. ISBN   978-0-85199-826-8.
  2. ↑ Miller HR, Miller OK (1988). Gasteromycetes: Morphological and Developmental Features, with Keys to the Orders, Families, and Genera. Eureka, California: Mad River Press. p. 133. ISBN   0-916422-74-7.
  3. ↑ Kuo M. (2007). 100 Edible Mushrooms . Ann Arbor, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. p.  45. ISBN   978-0-472-03126-9.
  4. ↑ Akers, Brian P.; Ovrebo, Clark L. (2005). "Leucoagaricus bivelatus, a new volvate leptoid species". Mycotaxon. 91: 303–308.
  5. 1 2 3 Watling, Roy; Hausknecht, Anton (1997). "Conocybe anthuriae, a new volvate species from Mauritius (Africa)" (PDF). Österreichische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde. 6.
  6. ↑ Watling, Roy (1979). "Observations on the Bolbitiaceae XVII Volvate Species of Conocybe" (PDF). Sydowia Beihefte. 8: 401–415.
  7. ↑ Watling, Roy (1979). "Observations on the Bolbitiaceae XVII Volvate Species of Conocybe" (PDF). Sydowia Beihefte. 8: 401–415.
  8. ↑ Agretious Thomas, K.; Hausknecht, Anton; Manimohan, P. (2001). "Bolbitiaceae of Kerala State, India: New species and new and noteworthy records" (PDF). Österreichische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde. 10: 87–114.
  9. ↑ Horak, Egon; Hausknecht, Anton; Desjardin, Dennis E. (2002). "Notes on extra-European taxa of Bolbitiaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)" (PDF). Österreichische Zeitschrift für Pilzkunde. 11: 226.
  10. ↑ Watling, Roy; Işiloğlu, Mustafa; Sermenli, Hayrünisa Baş (2011-02-11). "Observations on the Bolbitiaceae 31. Conocybe volviradicata sp. nov". Mycotaxon. 114 (1): 145–149. doi: 10.5248/114.145 .
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