Hygrophoropsis Aurantiaca
Austrian naturalist Franz Xaver von Wulfen described the false chanterelle in 1781, noting both its resemblance with the true chanterelles and people's propensity to confuse them. The false chanterelle was then placed in the genus Clitocybe, but it was later observed that its forked gills and dextrinoid spores indicated a relationship to Paxillus. Genetic analysis has confirmed that it belongs to the order Boletales and is more closely related to boletes.
Taxonomy
Austrian naturalist Franz Xaver von Wulfen described the false chanterelle as Agaricus aurantiacus in 1781, reporting that it appeared in the fir tree forests around Klagenfurt in October. He added that it could be confused with the chanterelle by the inexperienced, but that its true nature was very different; in contrast to its edible lookalike, he described it as "kind of pernicious". The specific epithet is the Latin word aurantiacus, meaning "orange". James Sowerby illustrated it and gave it the name Agaricus subcantharellus, describing it as a "perhaps unfavourable" variety of A. cantharellus (chanterelle). The fungus was placed in the genus Merulius by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1792, and then Cantharellus by Elias Fries in 1821. Bernhard Studer-Steinhäuslin concluded it could only be classified in the genus Clitocybe in 1900, based on its white spores, decurrent gills and lack of a ring. It was elevated to the status of genus in Emile Martin-Sans' 1929 publication L'Empoisonnement par les champignons et particulièrement les intoxications dues aux Agaricacées du groupe des Clitocybe et du groupe des Cortinarius, with authorship attributed to René Maire. Martin-Sans concurred with Maire's assessment of Hygrophoropsis, suggesting that it represented a form intermediate between Cantharellus and Clitocybe, and was thus worthy of generic ranking. The genus name refers to a resemblance to the genus Hygrophorus. It is commonly known as the false chanterelle.
Two varieties described by Derek Reid in 1972, H. aurantiaca var. macrospora and H. aurantiaca var. rufa, have since been promoted to distinct species status as H. macrospora (1996) and H. rufa (2008). Two other varieties of the fungus have been described, but they are not considered to have independent taxonomic significance by Index Fungorum: var. nana (Singer 1946), characterized by a small fruit body; and var. robusta (Antonín 2000), characterized by a robust fruit body and an odour similar to Maggi seasoning sauce. Pale forms of the fungus are sometimes referred to as var. pallida. This taxon was first published by Robert Kühner and Henri Romagnesi in 1953, but later considered invalid as it did not conform to nomenclatural rules. Variety nigripes, a taxon with a black-brown stipe, is invalid for similar reasons. H. aurantiaca var. pallida was published validly in 1995.
In 1979, Egon Horak suggested that H. aurantiaca and the New Zealand taxon H. coacta were the same species, but neither Index Fungorum nor MycoBank accept this synonymy. According to MycoBank, H. aurantiaca has several heterotypic synonyms, i.e. different types but considered the same species:
- Agaricus alectorolophoides Schaeff. (1774)
- Agaricus subcantharellus Sowerby (1809)
- Cantharellus brachypodus Chevall. (1826)
- Cantharellus ravenelii Berk. & M.A.Curtis (1853)
- Merulius brachypodes (Chevall.) Kuntze (1891)
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca has been confused with the true chanterelles (genus Cantharellus) because of overall similarities in appearance. However, the forked gills, frequently off-centre stipe placement, and dextrinoid spores of H. aurantiaca suggested a relationship with Paxillus, prompting Rolf Singer to classify the genus Hygrophoropsis in the family Paxillaceae in 1946. Several pigments have been identified from the fungus, including the orange variegatic acid, methyl variegate, the red variegatorubin, and several derivatives of pulvinic acid. The presence of these pigments suggests a chemotaxic relationship with the Boletaceae, Coniophoraceae, and Paxillaceae – families of Boletales with members that have similar compounds. Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed its affinity lay in the order Boletales in 1997, though later research showed it is not closely related to Paxillus or other gilled members of the order.
Description
The false chanterelle has a golden-orange cap ranging from 2–10 cm (3⁄4–3+7⁄8 in) in diameter, initially convex but becoming funnel-shaped as the mushroom matures. The cap margin, which remains rolled in a little, becomes wavy or lobed in age. The cap surface is covered with a fine down. The decurrent gill-like structures are narrow and forked, which is a distinctive and distinguishing feature. They are generally a more intense shade of orange than the cap. Along the stipe, the gills may be slightly crimped. The orange stipe is 2–8 cm (3⁄4–3+1⁄8 in) high and 0.5–1 cm (1⁄4–3⁄8 in) thick, and lacks a ring. It often has a darker, brownish, base. The ability to form sclerotia (compact masses of hardened fungal mycelium) has been documented for H. aurantiaca in laboratory studies. These structures contain glycogen and protein that may be used as food reserves during spore germination.
The soft, thin flesh ranges from white to yellowish to golden-orange. It has an odour and taste described variously as indistinct, or unpleasant and earthy. The spore print is white to cream. The oval spores are 5.5–7 by 4–4.5 micrometres (μm), with walls that tend to thicken in age. The spores are cyanophilous, meaning they will readily stain dark blue in methyl blue solution. Staining with Melzer's reagent often produces a dextrinoid (reddish-brown) colour reaction. Basidia (spore-bearing cells) measure 25–40 by 5–8 μm, and can be two-, three-, or four-spored. Cystidia (large sterile cells on the hymenium) are absent. The cap cuticle is in the form of a trichoderm, where the outermost hyphae are roughly parallel, like hairs, perpendicular to the cap surface. These hyphae are 4–15 μm in diameter, and contain intracellular pigments that impart an orange-brown to yellow-brown colouring to the cells. Clamp connections are present in the hyphae.
Teratological (developmentally abnormal) forms of H. aurantiaca have been reported to occur in the United Kingdom. The fruit bodies of these specimens were club-shaped with a wrinkled upper surface of convoluted gill tissue. The overall morphology of these forms somewhat resembles species of Clavariadelphus. Although the cause of this abnormal development is not known with certainty, environmental pollutants or virus infection have been suggested as contributing factors.
Similar species
Characteristics typically used in the field to distinguish Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca from lookalike species include: the soft, dry consistency of its cap; the crowded, decurrent, and forked gills that are saffron to orange coloured; and the lack of any distinctive taste or odour. The false chanterelle can be distinguished from the true chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) by its deeper orange colour, brown base to the stipe, velvety cap surface, forked gills rather than gill-like ridges, softer (and thinner) flesh, and lack of the characteristic apricot-smell. The cap surface of Hygrophoropsis fuscosquamula, found in Britain, has fine brown scales overlaying a dull orange background. H. rufa has velvety brown fur covering its cap, while H. macrospora has cream gills and stipe. Microscopically, these three species have larger spores than H. aurantiaca. H. tapinia, found in a range extending from southern Florida to Central America, is set apart from H. aurantiaca by its growth on or under deciduous trees (never conifers), and smaller spores, which measure 3.3–4.8 by 2.5–3.3 μm.
Formerly a member of Hygrophoropsis, Aphroditeola olida is also similar in appearance to H. aurantiaca but can be distinguished from the false chanterelle by its smaller, pinkish fruit bodies and candy-like odour. It also has smaller spores. Chrysomphalina chrysophylla has a yellowish brown cap and unforked yellow gills. Cortinarius hesleri, an eastern North American species that associates with oaks, has a rusty brown spore print and a cortina in young specimens. The poisonous jack-o'-lantern mushrooms (genus Omphalotus) comprise another group of lookalikes; however, they have straight, non-forked true gills. The European wood-rotting species Haasiella splendidissima, sometimes confused with H. aurantiaca, is most readily distinguished from the latter by its pink spore print and gills that do not fork.
Distribution, habitat, and ecology
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca is a widely distributed species. In Europe and North America, it is found in both hardwood and conifer forests, as well as heathland, in summer and autumn. In Mexico, it is common in coniferous forests. It fruits from the ground or from decaying wood, on burned areas in forests, and is often found near fallen trees and tree stumps. The fungus can also grow on woodchips used in gardening and landscaping, and so it also appears on roadsides and other locations where this material is used. Fruit bodies occur singly to scattered, or in clusters, and can be very abundant. Generally considered a dry weather mushroom, it can be plentiful when other mushrooms are scarce. Other locations where the false chanterelle has been recorded include Central and South America, northern Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Populations in California represent a complex of undescribed species that are collectively referred to as Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca sensu lato.
A saprophytic fungus, H. aurantiaca obtains nutrients from forest litter and decomposing wood, causing a brown rot on the wood upon which it grows.
H. aurantiaca secretes large amounts of oxalic acid, a reducing agent and relatively strong acid. This stimulates weathering of the humus layer of forest soil, and influences the solubility and turnover of nutrients (particularly phosphorus and nitrogen), which in turn affects their availability for use by forest trees.
Edibility
The false chanterelle is considered poisonous, and may cause serious digestive problems. Among other toxins, it contains high levels of the sugar alcohol arabitol. The mushroom was sometimes described as edible (though not tasty) until 1999. Fries described it as venenatus, meaning "poisonous", in 1821. Considering the species edible, David Arora speculated that it may have been confused with similar-looking but definitely poisonous species of Omphalotus. Italian mycologist Nicola Sitta has reported that the one attributed case of poisoning he knew of could be attributed to an idiosyncratic reaction as only one of three people eating it got symptoms, and concludes that it is harmless; it is eaten in Spain and France, and can legally be sold in France and Belgium. It is not recommended in Italy due to its similarity to poisonous species. It is eaten, though not highly regarded, by the Zapotec people of Ixtlán de Juárez in Oaxaca. The Tepehuán people of northwestern Mexico also occasionally eat the mushroom, which they refer to in their native language as guin'xacan ("delightful") or kia's gio' ("iguana lard"); there, it is commonly prepared by roasting over charcoal, or boiling and garnishing with cheese.
Notes
- ^ This taxon is given in the original source as Haasiella venustissima; molecular analysis published in 2012 indicates that this is the same species as H. splendidissima.
References
- ^ "Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (Wulfen) Maire, Empois. Champ.: 99 (1921)". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Jacquin NJ. (1781). Miscellanea Austriaca ad Botanicum, Chemiam et Historiam Naturalem Spectantia (in Latin). Vol. 2. Vienna: J.P. Kraus. p. 101; plate 14:3.
- ^ Nilsson S, Persson O (1977). Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill Fungi). London, United Kingdom: Penguin Books. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-14-063005-3.
- ^ Sowerby J. (1809). Coloured Figures of English Fungi. Vol. 4. London, United Kingdom: J. Davis. p. 413; plate 413.
- ^ Gmelin JF. (1792). Systema Naturae (in Latin). Vol. 2 (13 ed.). Leipzig, Germany: G.E. Beer. p. 1430.
- ^ Fries EM. (1821). Systema Mycologicum (in Latin). Vol. 1. Lund, Sweden. p. 318.
- ^ Studer B. (1900). "Cantharellus aurantiacus Wulf". Hedwigia (in German). 39: 6–7.
- ^ Martin-Sans E. (1929). L'Empoisonnement par les champignons et particulièrement les intoxications dues aux Agaricacées du groupe des Clitocybe et du groupe des Cortinarius (in French). Paris: Lechevalier. pp. 99, 225. OCLC 633752563.
- ^ Holden L. (July 2014). "English names for fungi 2014". British Mycological Society. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Reid DA. (1972). Fungorum Rariorum Icones Coloratae. Vol. 6. J. Cramer. pp. 5–6.
- ^ Boekhout T, Kuyper TW (1996). "Notulae ad Floram agaricinam neerlandicam XXIV–XXVIII. Some taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in the Tricholomataceae, tribus Clitocybeae". Persoonia. 16 (2): 225–32.
- ^ Knudsen H, Vesterhold J (2008). Funga Nordica: Agaricoid, Boletoid and Cyphelloid genera. Copenhagen, Denmark: Nordsvamp. p. 913. ISBN 978-87-983961-3-0.
- ^ "GSD Species Synonymy: Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (Wulfen) Maire". Species Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Singer R. (1946). "The Boletineae of Florida with notes on extralimital species . IV. The lamellate families (Gomphidiaceae, Paxillaceae, and Jugasporaceae)" (PDF). Farlowia. 2: 527–67 (see pp. 544–47).
- ^ Antonín V, Skubla P (2000). Interesting macromycetes found in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Fungi non Delineati. Vol. 11. Alassio, Italy: Libreria Mykoflora. pp. 1–48 (see p. 22).
- ^ Kühner R, Romagnesi H (1953). Flore Analytique des Champignons Supérieurs (in French). Paris, France: Masson et cie. p. 130. OCLC 799790482.
- ^ "Record Details: Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca var. pallida (Cooke) Kühner & Romagn". Index Fungorum. CAB International. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Holec J, Kolařík M (2013). "Notes on the identity of Hygrophoropsis rufa (Basidiomycota, Boletales)" (PDF). Czech Mycology. 65 (1): 15–24. doi:10.33585/cmy.65102.
- ^ Heykoop M. (1995). "Notas nomenclaturales y taxonómicas en Agaricales. II" [Nomenclatural and taxonomic notes on Agaricales. II]. Boletín de la Sociedad Micológica de Madrid (in Spanish). 20: 157–66.
- ^ Horak E. (1979). "Paxilloid Agaricales in Australasia" (PDF). Sydowia. 32 (1–5): 154–66.
- ^ Schaeffer JC. (1774). Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam nascuntur Icones (in Latin). Vol. 4. Regensburg, Germany. p. 46; plate 206.
- ^ Chevallier FF. (1826). Flore Générale des Environs de Paris (in French). Vol. 1. Paris, France: Ferra Jeune. p. 240; plate 7:5. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
- ^ Berkeley MJ, Curtis MA (1853). "Centuries of North American fungi". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. II. 12 (72): 417–35 (see p. 425). doi:10.1080/03745485709495068.
- ^ Kuntze O. (1891). Revisio Generum Plantarum (in Latin). Vol. 2. Leipzig, Germany: A. Felix. p. 862.
- ^ Arora D. (1986). Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. pp. 479–80. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5.
- ^ Besl H, Bresinsky A, Kopanski L, Steglich W (1978). "Pilzpigmente, XXXV. 3-O-Methylvariegatsäure und verwandte Pulvinsäurederivate aus Kulturen von Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (Boletales)" [Pigments of Fungi, XXXV. 3-0-Methylvariegatic acid and related pulvinic acid derivatives from cultures of Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca (Boletales)]. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C (in German). 33 (11–12): 820–25. doi:10.1515/znc-1978-11-1203. S2CID 87401294.
- ^ Bas C, Kuyper TW, Noordeloos ME (1995). Flora Agaricina Neerlandica. Vol. 3. CRC Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-90-5410-616-6.
- ^ Nelson SF. (2010). "Bluing components and other pigments of boletes" (PDF). Fungi. 3 (4): 11–14.
- ^ Binder M, Besl H, Bresinsky A (1997). "Agaricales oder Boletales? Molekularbiologische Befunde zur Zuordnung einiger umstrittener Taxa" [Agaricales or Boletales? Molecular evidence towards the classification of some controversial taxa] (PDF). Zeitschrift für Mykologie (in German). 63 (2): 189–96. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
- ^ Binder M, Hibbett DS (2006). "Molecular systematics and biological diversification of Boletales". Mycologia. 98 (6): 971–81. doi:10.3852/mycologia.98.6.971. PMID 17486973.
- ^ Davis, R. Michael; Sommer, Robert; Menge, John A. (2012). Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-520-95360-4. OCLC 797915861.
- ^ Kibby G. (2012). "The Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca complex". Field Mycology. 13 (2): 43–50. doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2012.03.004.
- ^ Courtecuisse R. (1999). Mushrooms of Britain and Europe. Collins Wildlife Trust Guides. London, United Kingdom: HarperCollins. p. 681. ISBN 978-0-00-220012-7.
- ^ Phillips R. (2006). Mushrooms. London, United Kingdom: Pan MacMillan. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-330-44237-4.
- ^ Antibus RK. (1989). "Formation and structure of sclerotia and sclerotium-specific proteins in Hygrophoropss aurantiaca". Mycologia. 81 (6): 905–13. doi:10.2307/3760109. JSTOR 3760109.
- ^ Buczacki S, Shields C, Ovenden D (2012). Collins Fungi Guide. London, United Kingdom: Collins. pp. 178–80, 422. ISBN 978-0-00-746648-1.
- ^ Desjardin DE, Wood MG, Stevens FA (2014). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Portland, Oregon; London, United Kingdom: Timber Press. pp. 148, 158–59. ISBN 978-1-60469-353-9.
- ^ Smith AH. (1975). A Field Guide to Western Mushrooms. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-472-85599-5.
- ^ Singer R. (1972). "Cyanophilous spore walls in the Agaricales and agaricoid basidiomycetes". Mycologia. 64 (4): 822–29 (see p. 827). doi:10.2307/3757937. JSTOR 3757937. PMID 5065011.
- ^ Spooner BM, Ainsworth AM (2014). "The extinct, the extant and the excluded pt.1: Clavariadelphus and a teratological form of Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca". Field Mycology. 15 (2): 51–52. doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2014.03.009.
- ^ Lamaison JL, Polese JM (2005). The Great Encyclopedia of Mushrooms. Cologne, Germany: Könemann. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-3-8331-1239-3.
- ^ Gómez-Pignataro LD. (1992). "Los Basidiomicetes de Costa Rica: V. Paxillaceae (Agaricales, Boletineae)" [Basidiomycetes from Costa Rica: V. Paxillaceae (Agaricales, Boletineae)]. Brenesia (in Spanish). 38: 105–13.
- ^ Roberts P, Evans S (2011). The Book of Fungi. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-226-72117-0.
- ^ Kuo M, Methven A (2014). Mushrooms of the Midwest. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-252-07976-4.
- ^ Bresinsky A, Besl H (1990). A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Fungi: A Handbook for Pharmacists, Doctors, and Biologists. Würzburg, Germany: Wolfe Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7234-1576-3.
- ^ Vizzini A, Consiglio G, Setti L, Ercole E (2012). "The phylogenetic position of Haasiella (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) and the relationships between H. venustissima and H. splendidissima" (PDF). Mycologia. 104 (3): 777–84. doi:10.3852/11-334. hdl:2318/121165. PMID 22314595. S2CID 6799359.
- ^ Miller HR, Miller OK Jr (2006). North American Mushrooms: A Field Guide to Edible and Inedible Fungi. Guilford, Connecticut: FalconGuides. p. 332. ISBN 978-0-7627-3109-1.
- ^ Guzmán G. (1973). "Some distributional relationships between Mexican and United States mycofloras". Mycologia. 65 (6): 1319–30 (see p. 1324). doi:10.2307/3758146. JSTOR 3758146. PMID 4773309.
- ^ Haas H. (1969). The Young Specialist Looks at Fungi. London, United Kingdom: Burke. pp. 154, 204. ISBN 978-0-222-79409-3.
- ^ Fransson AM, Valeur I, Wallander H (2004). "The wood-decaying fungus Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca increases P availability in acid forest humus soil, while N addition hampers this effect". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 36 (11): 1699–1705. Bibcode:2004SBiBi..36.1699F. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.04.027.
- ^ Jordan M. (2004). The Encyclopedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe. London, United Kingdom: Frances Lincoln. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-7112-2378-3.
- ^ Lindgren J. (May 2003). "Theory for why "edible" mushrooms make some people sick" (PDF). Bulletin of the Puget Sound Mycological Society (392): 1.
- ^ Ammirati JF, McKenny M, Stuntz DE (1987). The New Savory Wild Mushroom. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-295-96480-5.
- ^ Sitta, Nicola (2021). "Guida Ragionata Alla Commestibilità dei Funghi" (PDF). Regione Piemonte. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ Garibay-Orijel R, Caballero J, Estrada-Torres A, Cifuentes J (2007). "Understanding cultural significance, the edible mushrooms case". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 3 (4): 4. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-3-4. PMC 1779767. PMID 17217539.
- ^ Elizondo MG. (1991). "Ethnobotany of the southern Tepehuan of Durango, Mexico: I. Edible mushrooms". Journal of Ethnobotany. 11 (2): 165–73 (see p. 170).
External links
- Media related to Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca at Wikimedia Commons