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What is your favorite fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with trees and why?
I think it has to be the amethyst deceiver or Laccaria amethystina. A species which forms symbiotic associations with all kinds of trees, but most often with birch and oak trees.¹
There are so many reasons why I love this fungus, so many.
First of all, it is absolutely gorgeous. I remember seeing this species for the first time as a kid when visiting the forest and just being in pure awe because of how beautiful it was. I have been fascinated with this mushroom ever since. Besides sentimental and aesthetic reasons, I have other motives as to why I love this fungus so much.
I like how this fungus itself is edible, but when growing in arsenic rich soils can absorb the arsenic and become toxic. I would just love to research how the absorption of arsenic affects the fungus in different stages. Maybe I have not been looking thoroughly enough, but I have not been able to find anything about it. I find its ability to become toxic by absorbing arsenic from the soil really fascinating.
Another reason I love the amethyst deceiver so much is because of the genus it is in. Laccaria is so amazing! Another Laccaria species, Laccaria laccata which also forms symbiotic relationships with trees, is really awesome. Recently while researching this species, I came across an article written in the early 80's that for some reason I had not run across before. It wrote about the relationship of L. laccata with the douglas-fir, specifically with douglas-fir seedlings. L. laccata is extremely effective in suppressing diseases and promoting growth in the seedlings.² It is probably so effective because it has mycorrhization helper bacteria or MHB.³
But seriously, I do not know how I had not run across this research before, because there is a lot of it. If it interest you I would really recommend researching it because it is so interesting!
This Laccaria laccata btw:
To me the amethyst deceiver just has so many interesting properties which I would love to research myself, this is probably the main reason why I love this species so much. I would love an opportunity to look at this species under a microscope and just learn everything about it! I want to research if the amethyst deceiver is also very effective in preventing diseases or stimulating growth, maybe it has other awesome properties. I just want to know more about it!
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I hope this properly answers your question, if you have any more questions let me know:)) It was tough choice btw, because I have like 500 favourite species of fungi lol.
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Image sources:
Text sources:
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2.
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Mutuals:
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Could you tell me about candida aureus and alternaria solani? My friend studies them and they look so interesting
Hiii, I am so sorry for reacting so late, I have just been really busy with exams and stuff. Anyway, here is the post about Candida Aureus. I will also post about Alternaria solani, but at another time because I am still occupied with my exams.
This post will focus more on the fungus itself, rather than the effect it has on humans.
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Candida aureus
Candida auris is a type of fungus that grows a yeast and can cause candidiases in humans. It is most often contracted in hospitals by patients with a reduced immunity.¹ The fungus can enter the blood causing fungemia (the presence of yeast or fungi in the blood) and cause serious infections.² These infections affect the bloodstream, central nervous system and the internal organs.¹
C. auris has attracted attention because of its drug resistance. It was discovered in 2009 and has seemed to spread globally in the past 15 years.
Identification and microscopic features
C. auris was first described and identified in 2009 after being found in the ear canal of a 70-year-old Japanese woman at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital in Japan. It is a species of ascomycetous fungus of the genus Candida that grows as a yeast. It forms smooth, shiny, whitish-grey, viscous colonies on growth media.¹
Microscopically, cells are ellipsoid in shape.¹ The cells are approximately 2.5–5.0 micrometres in size and are arranged singly, in pairs or even in groups. C. auris does not form hyphae or pseudohyphae. Although, if it is grown under high-salt stress and depletion of heat-shock proteins, it can result in production of pseudohyphae like forms.³
Candida auris-fungus. Picture by Christopher Paul
Origins and emergence of the species
DNA analysis of four distinct but drug-resistant strains of Candida auris indicate an evolutionary divergence taking place at least 4,000 years ago. The common leap among the four strains into drug-resistance might be linked to to widespread azole-type antifungal use in agriculture. However, explanations for its emergence remain speculative.¹
Proposed scheme for the emergence of C. auris
Another possible explanation for its origins and spread is suggested to revolve around seawater. Molecular biologist Auke de Jong explains the correlation: ‘Because this fungus has a very high tolerance for salt, which is a substance many fungi cannot cope with. The sea could be a plausible route for the global spread of Candida auris; it may have been spread across the globe by the currents.’ ⁴
Vaccine development and treatment
As of June 2024 there is no human vaccine against Candida auris, however experiments involving the NDV-3A vaccine have successfully immunized mice against the fungus. This vaccine also improved the protective efficacy of the antifungal drug micafungin against C. auris infection in the mouse bloodstream.¹
Treatment can be complicated because of its multiple drug resistance and it easily being misidentified as various other Candida species.¹
Highly adaptable
Molecular biologist Auke de Jong also talks about how C. auris is a highly adaptable fungus. Besides its high tolerance for salt, it can also survive relatively high temperatures and commonly used disinfectants. The actions of mankind have accelerated the fungus’ adaptive capacity. Through the large-scale use of fungicides in agriculture, we have accelerated the adaptation process in this fungus. This contributes to the development of an fungus that is rapidly building an increasingly stronger resistance to the substances with which we fight it.⁴
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References
1.
2.
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4.
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Mutuals:
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Alternia solani
Alternia solani is a fungal pathogen that produces a disease in various memebers of the Solanum genus called early blight.¹
Host plants
Host plants include various members of the Solanum genus. Such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), aubergine (Solanum melongena), bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) and other pepper species (Capsicum spp.).²
Symptoms
The symptoms of early blight will vary depending on the host and plant tissue.²
Foliar symptoms are dark brown ranging to black necrosis. The first symptoms often appear on the older leaves as small, dark, necrotic lesions, a few millimetres in diameter, which increase in size. The lesions are sometimes restricted by leaf veins and will take on an angular shape. Within larger lesions, concentric rings (so called bullseye) can be seen, usually surrounded by a chlorotic, yellowing zone. The chlorosis can extend to the whole infected leaf. The infected lesions enlarge and the whole leaf becomes necrotic which results in premature defoliation.²
With tomato plants, the premature defoliation can cause injury to the fruits due to sunscald.²
"Bullseye" patterned leaf lesion of Alternaria solani on a tomato plant¹
On tomato, Alternia solani can cause symptoms on the stem. Dark and sunken lesions can appear on the stems of seedlings, called collar rot. The infected seedling shows reduced plant vigour or can die when the stem is completely girdled by the lesion. The main stem of adult tomato plants can also be infected, showing small, slightly sunken lesions. As on the leaves, typical concentric rings are visible on the infected stem.²
On green or ripe tomato fruits, dark lesions can occur at the end of the stem. Ripe fruits are less susceptible than semi-ripe ones. Heavily infected fruits will drop prematurely. On less resistant cultivars, the calyx and blossom also can be infected and show comparable symptoms.²
Stem lesion of Alternaria solani on a potato plant¹
The symptoms on potato tubers are dark, slightly sunken lesions (dry rot). The dry or hard rot of tubers causes storage losses, reduces the quality of table potatoes, and reduces the germination capacity of seed potatoes.²
Disease cycle
Alternaria solani has a polycyclic life cycle and reproduces asexually by means of conidia (spores).¹
A. solani is a necrotrophic pathogen: it kills the host tissue using cell wall degrading enzymes and toxins and feeds on the dead plant cell material.¹
The life cycle starts with the fungus overwintering in crop residues or wild members of the family Solanaceae. In the spring, conidia are produced. Multicellular conidia are splashed by water or by wind onto an uninfected plant. The conidia infect the plant by entering through stromata, small wounds, or direct penetration. Infections usually start on older leaves close to the ground. The fungus takes time to grow and eventually forms a lesion. From this lesion, more conidia are created and released. These conidia infect other plants or other parts of the same plant within the same growing season. Every part of the plant can be infected and form lesions. This is especially important when fruit or tubers are infected as they can be used to spread the disease.¹
Distribution and environment
Distribution of Alternia solani ²
Alternaria solani spores are universally present in fields where host plants have been grown.¹
Free water is required for the spores to germinate; spores will be unable to infect a perfectly dry leaf. Alternaria spores germinate within 2 hours over a wide range of temperatures but at 26.6–29.4 °C (79.9–84.9 °F) may only take half an hour. Another 3 to 12 hours are required for the fungus to penetrate the plant depending on temperature. After penetration, lesions may form within 2 to 3 days or the infection can remain dormant awaiting proper conditions. Alternaria sporulates best at about 26.6 °C (79.9 °F) when abundant moisture (as provided by rain, mist, fog, dew, irrigation, etc.) is present. Infections are most prevalent on poorly nourished or otherwise stressed plants.¹
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References
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2.
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Mutuals:
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Nidulariaceae and gemmae cups similarities
This post will discuss similarities between Nidulariaceae, otherwise known as bird's nest fungi, and the gemmae cups of specifically Tetraphis pellucida, a species of moss.
I decided to post this after reading 'Gathering Moss' by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
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This image from Gathering Moss' by Robin Wall Kimmerer shows the gemmae cups of Tetraphis pellucida.
According to the book Tetraphis is unique in having specialized means of both sexual and asexual reproduction. It is remarkably flexible in making reproductive choices compared to other mosses.
Most mosses clone themselves by dismemberment. In other words broken-off bits of moss can grow into new adults that are genitically identical to the parents. Tetraphis however has another means of asexually cloning itself.
Tetraphis grows in patches on old stumps and looking closely the surface of these colonies seem to be covered in tiny green cups. These are gemmae cups, formed at the end of the upright shoots of the moss. These gemmae cups resemble bird's nest including a clutch of tiny green eggs.
"The nest or gemmae cup is a circular bowl made of overlapping leaves and nestled within it lie egg-like gemmae. Each gemma is a roundish mass of only ten to twelve cells, which catch the light and shimmer. Already moist and photosynthesizing, each gemma is poised to establish itself as a new plant, cloned from its parent."
The gemma in the gemmae cups wait for rain. Tetraphis is just sturdy enough to harness a raindrop and for that it is designed.
"When a gemmae cup receives a direct hit , the raindrop breaks loose the gemmae and propels them outward, leaving the nest empty."
The gemmae can be propelled up to fifteen centimeters away, which is quite a significant distance for a plant that is only one centimeter tall.
A longitudinal section through the fruiting body of Cyathus olla showing 5 peridioles attached inside the funnel-shaped peridium.
Just like most other (but not all) bird's nest fungi, the cup-shaped fruiting body of Cyathus olla contains a few so-called "eggs". These eggs are structures called peridioles (2, 5) which contain basidiospores by which this fungus reproduces and disperses itself.
Each peridiole is attached to the inner surface of the cup by a thin and hollow stalk which contains an inner, coiled funicular cord (9, 12). The fragile outer layer of the stalk, called the purse (3, 6), is easily ruptured, thus releasing the funicular cord. When wet, the funicular cord elongates significantly and can reach a length 15-20 centimeters. The base of this elongated cord, called the hapteron (13), is very sticky and adheres to solid objects after it is released from the cup. When dried the peridiole splits open and releases its spores which fall to the ground or get carried away by the wind.
Cups of Nidulariaceae essentially serve as "splash-cups" during a rain storm, just like gemmae cups. So they both reproduce asexually by one or multiple raindrops hitting the "nest" and dislodging its gemmae or peridioles.
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References
The information about Tetraphis and the gemmae cups I sourced from Robin Wall Kimmerer's book called 'Gathering Moss'.
The information about Cyathus I got from this webpage:
https://www.waynesword.net/pljune96.htm
Tetraphis pellucida picture:
Cyathus olla picture:
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Hiyaa! I've got a new post again, I hope you like it!:)
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Anyone else who wants to be tagged in my mycology or other informative posts can comment or sent me a direct message:)
Pictures from the Aquarium
FIRSTLY SHARKS!!! AAAAAAA!! THEY'RE SOOO CUTEEE
BLACKTIP REEF SHARKS (CARCHARHINUS MELANOPTERUS)!!!
A ZEBRA SHARK (STEGOSTOMA FASCIATUM) AND A BLACKCHIN GUITARFISH (GLAUCOSTEGUS CEMICULUS)!!!
A POTATO GROUPER (EPINEPHELUS TUKULA) AND SOME GOLDEN TREVALLIES (GNATHANODON SPECIOSUS)!!
A RED LIONFISH (PTEROIS VOLITANS) AND A SPOTTED-GILL CARDINALFISH (OSTORHINCHUS CHRYSOPOMUS)!!!
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Hiyaaa @writingraccoon, I told you I would @ you in mycology posts but given you said you like biology, I thought you might like these pictures of sharks and fish too:)
Parasol - Macrolepiota procera
This post will discuss parasol mushrooms or Macrolepiota procera, a fairly large species species of mushroom that can grow up to 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) high.
The pictures (besides of the spores) are from a few autumns ago, I think about three years back.
Fruitbody
The cap of Macrolepiota procera is initially spherical and pale brown with a darker brown area near the crown that breaks into scales, the cap expands until it is flat with a small central bump, called an umbo. The flesh of the cap is white of colour and does not change significantly when cut. The cap diameter at maturity ranges between 10 and 25 centimeters.¹
The gills are broad, crowded, white or pale cream of colour and free, terminating some distance from the stipe.¹
Around the stipe of Macrolepiota procera a large double-edged ring persists but it often becomes movable and falls to the base. The stipe is smooth and white, cream or beige but decorated with small brown scales that often give it a snakeskin appearance.¹
The stipe is bulbous at the base and tapers inwards slightly towards its apex; the diameter of the stem ranges from 1 to 1.5 centimeters, and to 2.5 centimeters across the bulbous base. The stipe height can be up to 30 centimeters.¹
Spores and microscopic features
The spores are white are very pale cream of colour, ellipsoidal, smooth, thick-walled, 12-18 x 8-12µm, with a small germ pore.¹
Ecology and distribution
Parasol mushrooms are saprobic, meaning that it "feeds" on decayed organic matter. They are most common in woodland clearings and in grassy areas next to woodland, growing alone or in small scattered groups. This species occurs in Britain, most parts of mainland Europe and in the USA.¹
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References
1.
Normally I would use more references, but all of the info was the same so I thought this would be fine:)
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Another mycology infodump, let's gooooooooooo!!!!!!!:)
OMG! These pictures are gorgeous! Hydnellum Peckii, or Devil's Tooth is literally one of my favourite fungi! And if I thought Hydnellum Peckii was gorgeous, man, I hadn't seen Chrondrostereum purpureum! WOW!
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Chondrostereum purpureum (also known as forbidden tapioca pearls) via mantodeadream on instagram ❦ Hydnellum Peckii (also known as Strawberries and Cream, Devil’s Tooth, Bleeding Tooth Fungus), photographed by Kevin Moldenhauer
Cap shapes and gill attachment
This post shows the varieties of cap shapes and gill attachments of the "typical" mushroom with gills.
With the "typical" mushroom I mean fruitbodies of fungi that have caps and are not morel or saddle mushrooms.
While most of these "typical" mushrooms have gills, a lot can also have pores or teeth under the cap, but these are mostly just called pores and teeth, and are not distinguished by gill attachment, because well...they are not gills.
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Cap (pileus) shapes
Gill (lamella) attachment
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I just realised that in posts I just throw around the names of cap shapes and gill attachments without actually explaining what it looks like so that is why I made this post.
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Spores: various shapes and textures
Just like my post on cap shapes and gill attachment, I thought it might be useful to know what certain terms mean when I describe a fungus, in this case the terms I use to describe spores and what they look like.
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Mycorrhizal spores: shapes and textures
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Link to image:
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PINNED POST - LINKS
This post has the links to 'mini-series' posts.
MYCOLOGY 101
Cap shapes and gill attachment
Spores: various shapes and textures
Mycological terms and practical vocabulary
FOSSIL SHARK TEETH ID PROJECT
Fossil Shark Teeth ID Project - Part 1
Fossil Shark Teeth ID Project - Part 2
SPOOKY PLANTS AND FUNGI
Ghost pipe - Monotropa uniflora
Spooky Fungi
Black elfin saddle - Helvella lacunosa
White elfin crispa - Helvella crispa
Candy apple bolete - Exsudoporus frostii
Beefsteak mushroom - Fistulina hepatica
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Mutuals
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Mycological terms and practical vocabulary
I would recommend against reading all of this (except if you want to ofc), I made this post with the purpose of being able to look up what certain terms mean in my posts.
I have not yet used all of these terms, however I did think these were important terms. Whenever I use a new term in a post, I will add it to this list.
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A
acute - (refers to the shape) sharp
amyloid - turns blue, grey or black when stained with Meltzer’s reagent
annulus - ring of tissue on a mushroom stem left by a torn partial veil
ascomycetes - a class of fungi that produces their spores in sac-like cells called asci
B
basidiomycetes - a class of fungi that produce their spores on basidia
basidiospores - sexual spores produced on the basidia of basidiomycetes fungi
basidia - (sing. basidium) spore-producing cells of a basidiomycete fungus
biotrophic - feeding on living cells of other organisms
bulbous - (describes a stipe) with a swollen base
C
caespitose - crowded together in a tuft or a cluster but not attached to each other
caulocystidium - a cystidium on the stem of a mushroom
cheilocystidium - a cystidium on the edge of a mushroom gill
chlamydospores - asexual spores formed by the breaking up of fungal hyphae
clamp connection - swollen area formed around septum in a hypha during cell division
clavate - (often describes a stipe) club-shaped
coprophilous - growing on dung
cystidium - special sterile cell among the basidia on some fungi
D
deuteromycetes - obsolete term for a group fungi not known to reproduce sexually
dextrinoid - staining brick red or brown with Meltzer’s reagent
dichotomous - forking/divided into pairs
dikaryon - a pair of closely associated, sexually compatible nuclei
E
ectomycorrhiza (EM) - where the fungus forms sheathes around plant rootlets (often of a tree), growing between but not penetrating the cells of the plant root, and providing the plant with water and nutrients while the plant supplies sugars to the fungus
endomycorrhiza - mycorrhiza in which fungal hyphae penetrate cell walls of host plant
endophyte - fungus living within a plant without causing visible symptoms of harm
F
foetid - with a strong and offensive odour
fusiform - (describes a stipe) spindle-shaped, tapering at top and bottom
G
gleba - spore-bearing tissue enclosed within fruitbodies of gasteromycetes
guttation - the exudation of water and some metabolic byproducts produced by fungal cells
guttule - a small oil-like drop microscopically visible inside a fungal spore
H
hirsute - hairy
hyaline - clear/colourless when viewed under a microscope
hymenium - fertile spore-bearing tissue (e.g. on mushroom gill or pore surfaces)
hypha - (pl. hyphae) filamentous thread of fungal mycelium
I
inamyloid - not changing colours with Melzer's reagent
L
lamellae - gills
latex - milky fluid that oozes from cut surfaces of Lactarius species
lichen - organism comprising a fungus and an alga or a cyanobacterium
lignicolous - growing on wood
M
monomitic - monomitic systems only have one type of hyphae: generative hyphae
mycelium - body of a fungus, most of which is underground or hidden within wood
mycobiont - the fungal component of a lichen or of a mycorrhizal partnership
mycorrhiza - structure by which a fungus and a plant exchange nutrients mutually
myxomycetes - a large and commonly encountered group within the slime moulds
N
necrotrophic - feeding by killing and consuming (part of) another organism
nonamyloid - not turning blue, grey or black when stained with Meltzer’s reagent
O
organelle - a differentiated structure within a cell
P
parasitism - process whereby an organism feeds at the expense of another (host)
partial veil - protective membrane covering gills during development of a fruitbody
pellicle - the outer layer of a mushroom, often viscid (sticky, gelatinous) and easily peels off
peridioles - egg-like spore capsules in bird’s-nest fungi (Nidulariaceae)
peridium - outer wall of a fungus, especially a gasteromycete (e.g. a puffball)
perithecium - flask-shaped chambers containing asci within pyrenomycetes fungi
photobiont - photosynthesizing component (alga or cyanobacterium) of a lichen
pileus - (pl. pilei) the cap on the top of a mushroom stem
pleurocystidium - a cystidium on a gill surface
pores - the orifices of the tubes of polypore fungi via which spores emerge
pseudorhiza - a tap-root-like extension at the base of a mushroom stem
Q
---
R
resupinate - fruitbody that lies flat on the substrate with its hymenium outermost
rhizomorph - a root-like mycelial strand comprising bunched parallel hyphae
ring - membranous remains of the partial veil attached to a stem
S saprophyte - an organism that obtains its nutrients from dead organic material
septate - (describes hyphae) partitioned by cross walls known as septa
septum - (pl. septa) a cross wall separating cells of a hyphal thread
serrate - (describes gill margins) with saw-toothed edges
sessile - without a stalk
slime moulds - a group of fungus-like organisms that use spores to reproduce
sphaerocysts - globose hyphal cells in the Russulaceae and certain other fungi
spore - reproductive structure of a fungus, usually a single cell
sporophore - fungal fruitbody
stellate - star-shaped
sterigma - (pl. sterigmata) prong at top of basidium on which a spore develops
sterile - does not produce spores, either sexually or asexually
stipe - stem of a mushroom
stipitate - (describes a fruitbody) having a stem
striate - (describes a cap) with fine radiating lines or furrows around margin
T
thallus - (pl. thalli) the body of a fungus or a lichen
tomentose - seemingly thickly covered in wool or soft hairs
trama - the flesh or context of a fungal fruitbody’s cap, gills or stem
tubes - spore-bearing cylindrical structures of boletes and polypores
U
universal veil - a protective membrane that initially surrounds an entire fruitbody
Uredinales - rust fungi (an order within the Basidiomycota)
ustilaginomycetes - smut fungi (a class within the Basidiomycota)
V
viscid - slimy or sticky
volva - remains of the universal veil found at stem base of some fungi
W
---
X
---
Y
---
Z
Zygomycota - a class of simple fungi whose hyphae generally lack cross walls
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References
First Nature
The University of Adelaide
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Hiyaaa:) This is another part of Mycology 101, it will be linked in my pinned post.
Looks like a Spectacular Rustgill or Gymnopilus junonius. They often grow on tree stumps and tree bases.
This species also occurs in Southwest and Southeast Australia.
In the picture I cannot see the gills, I am assuming it has gills because it looks exactly like a Spectacular Rustgill, so they might still be covered by the cortina (veil).
I also found a picture of a person who identified a Spectacular Rustgill in Australia which looked really similar.
So shortly, I am fairly sure it is a Spectacular Rustgill or Gymnopilus junonius.
I hope this helps:)
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I got the pictures from iNaturalist:
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@writingraccoon Hiyaaa:) The op being Australian does help so thanks for letting me know. I do not mind being tagged in identification posts, I like id'ing fungi:)
looka this mushroom from my backyard
Chrondrostereum purpureum
This post will discuss Chrondrostereum purpureum, a fungal plant pathogen that causes silver leaf disease in trees.
I made this post in response to this poll.
Fruit body and spores
Subsequent to starting as a crust on the wood, the fruiting body develops undulating intergrowing brackets up to about 3 centimeters wide, which have a tough rubbery texture.¹ The sterile upper surface is hirsute to tomentose and is somewhat grayish or brownish in colour. The fertile lower surface is pinkish to dark purple at first, becoming dark brownish-violet with age. Especially at the early stages of growing, it often secretes dark purple coloured liquid through a process known as guttation.² After a week or two the fruiting structure dries out, becomes brittle, and turns a drab brown or beige.¹
The spores are cylindric, approximately 5–8 μm x 3–4 μm in size, hyaline and inamyloid. The hyphal structure is monomitic with clamp connections.¹
Ecology and silver leaf disease
Chrondrostereum purpureum can be found on living and dead hardwoods, mostly on broad-leafed species, but it can also be a serious parasite of conifers.² It is a well-known pathogen of members of the Rosaceae family, especially various Prunus species², but also apple, pear, willow, maple, etc.¹ As a pathogen C. purpureum causes a progressive and frequently fatal disease, called 'silver leaf disease'², which causes the leaves of the tree to silver and is followed by the death of the branches.¹
Distribution
Geographically the fungus is just about as widespread as its host. It can be found in woods, orchards and tree plantations in temperate climates.¹
As a human pathogen
There has been a single case report which confirmed a human infection with Chondrostereum purpureum in a non immunocompromised man. The man had been working with infected plant material which caused him to get infected, however, it was resolved by treating him with antifungal medication.¹
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References
1.
2.
Images
https://www.instagram.com/p/C04kvGuLvYw/?igsh=MXh6a3hicHgweGNpcA%3D%3D
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In my workplace there's a mushroom? Fungi? Coworker? So im keeping check on its growth, since I have to maintain my Sanity in hell somehow. Their name is 'Champi'
In case someone know what this fellow coworker is, any information is apreciated.
They grow the white parte first, then the brown parte grows and the other gets small, and so on.
History of my mushroom coworker
Some months ago I thought it was a piece of wood on the really broken furniture, but then it kept growing so hold on its not wood, then it got bigger and had three pointy ends, and had spots, but then the cleaning lady wiped it with bleach, and they "died".
But now they are back, and there is a Lot More, so here se ate documenting it lol
Wrinkled Peach - Rhodotus palmatus
This post will discuss the Wrinkled Peach mushroom or Rhodotus palmatus, a beautiful species of fungi that is unfortunately in decline.
Fruitbody
The cap is initially almost globose after which it turns convex with an inrolled margin and eventually almost flattening. When young the cap has a pink colour and when mature the cap's colour turns peach hue. The pellicle, which can be peeled completely, is thick and gelatinous and usually wrinkled in the form of a network of interconnected ridges. When mature the cap's measurements range from 5 to 10 centimeters across. The flesh of the cap is white of colour.¹
The gills are adnate to free, have a pinkish colour and are moderately spaced.¹
The stipe has a whitish tinged with pink colour and is paler than the cap. The stipe of this mushroom is 3 to 7 centimeters long and 1 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter. It does not have an annulus, is covered in whitish fibrils and often bleeds red or orange guttules. Because of it being a saprobic mushroom and therefore growing on tree trunks or branches, the stipes of this species are invariably curved.¹
Spores and microscopic features
The spore print can have a white to pink colour. Microscopically, the spores (bottom left picture) are globose, covered in fine warts, 5-7µm in diameter and inamyloid.¹
The cheilocystidia (bottom right picture) are mostly fusiform or narrowly club-shaped and typically 8 x 40 µm.¹
Ecology and distribution
Rhodotus palmatus is a saprobic mushroom, meaning that it feeds on decaying or dead organic material. It is specifically found on well-rotted hardwood trunks and branches, usually those of fallen elms but also those of other broadleaves.¹ It is most likely to fruit during cooler temperatures after long periods of rainy weather.² It can be found growing alone, scattered or gregariously.
It has a circumboreal distribution, meaning that it can be found throughout the boreal regions. This species can then also found in North America, Europe, as well as Asia.²
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References
1.
2.
Images
1.
2.
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Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
Hiyaa @belis86 ! I thought you might find this post interesting:))
A Rainbow of Waxcaps
RAINBOW MUSHROOMS!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
IT IS SO COOL!!!
Most of these are Parrot Waxcaps or Gliophorus psittacinus, I want to say all of them are but it is a bit difficult to find multiple references that back up a colour range this wide of Parrot Waxcaps. I did find references that back up that Gliophorus psittacinus can be red, orange, yellow and green of colour, but I am not so sure about the blue and purple hues.
Images
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
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Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
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Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
A rainbow of waxcaps
RAINBOW MUSHROOMS!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
IT IS SO COOL!!!
Most of these are Parrot Waxcaps or Gliophorus psittacinus, I want to say all of them are but it is a bit difficult to find multiple references that back up a colour range this wide of Parrot Waxcaps. I did find references that back up that Gliophorus psittacinus can be red, orange, yellow and green of colour, but I am not so sure about the blue and purple hues.
Images
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
Parrot Waxcap - Gliophorus psittacinus
Fruitbody
The cap is 5 to 40 milimeters across and is umbonate in shape, expanding to broadly convex or nearly flat. The cap is bald and slimy. It is variable in colours but is most frequently a dark green at first, after which it fades to a orangish yellow from the center outward, till it finallly turns to a dull orangish yellow. The margin of the cap is often thinly lined.¹
The gills are narrowly attached to the stipe; close or nearly distant; adnate. Initially, they usually have a pale green colour, becoming yellowish to orange-yellow throughout development.¹
The stipe is 10 to 80 milimeters long and 2 to 5 milimeters across.² Its surface is bald and slimy. Its pale green above and orangish yellow near its base when young, fading to pale yellowish overall.¹
Spores and microscopic features
The spore print is white in colour.¹
Microscopically, the spores are 6-9 x 3.5-4.5 µ in size, smooth, ellipsoid, hyaline and multiguttulate in KOH, and inamyloid. The basidia are 35-45 µ long, 4-sterigmate or occasionally 2-sterigmate.¹
Ecology and distribution
The precise ecological role uncertain, however, they appear in hardwood, conifer forests and grasslands growing scattered to gregariously. They are frequently found in moss, or on mossy embankments along wooded roadsides. They generally can be found from spring through Autumn.¹
Gliophorus psittacinus can be found in western Europe, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, the Americas, South Africa and Japan.²
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References
1.
2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
A rainbow of waxcaps
RAINBOW MUSHROOMS!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
IT IS SO COOL!!!
Most of these are Parrot Waxcaps or Gliophorus psittacinus, I want to say all of them are but it is a bit difficult to find multiple references that back up a colour range this wide of Parrot Waxcaps. I did find references that back up that Gliophorus psittacinus can be red, orange, yellow and green of colour, but I am not so sure about the blue and purple hues.
Images
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
Parrot Waxcap - Gliophorus psittacinus
I made this post in reaction to this poll.
Fruitbody
The cap is 5 to 40 milimeters across and is umbonate in shape, expanding to broadly convex or nearly flat. The cap is bald and slimy. It is variable in colours but is most frequently a dark green at first, after which it fades to a orangish yellow from the center outward, till it finallly turns to a dull orangish yellow. The margin of the cap is often thinly lined.¹
The gills are narrowly attached to the stipe; close or nearly distant; adnate. Initially, they usually have a pale green colour, becoming yellowish to orange-yellow throughout development.¹
The stipe is 10 to 80 milimeters long and 2 to 5 milimeters across.² Its surface is bald and slimy. Its pale green above and orangish yellow near its base when young, fading to pale yellowish overall.¹
Spores and microscopic features
The spore print is white in colour.¹
Microscopically, the spores are 6-9 x 3.5-4.5 µ in size, smooth, ellipsoid, hyaline and multiguttulate in KOH, and inamyloid. The basidia are 35-45 µ long, 4-sterigmate or occasionally 2-sterigmate.¹
Ecology and distribution
The precise ecological role uncertain, however, they appear in hardwood, conifer forests and grasslands growing scattered to gregariously. They are frequently found in moss, or on mossy embankments along wooded roadsides. They generally can be found from spring through Autumn.¹
Gliophorus psittacinus can be found in western Europe, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Greenland, the Americas, South Africa and Japan.²
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References
1.
2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Images
1.
2.
3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
I am sorry to hear about Champi getting ''bleached'' and getting kicked out of the company soon, it is a scandal! Horrible and egregious! However I am afraid that it might not be a very good idea to bring a saprobic mushroom into your home.
As much as I want Champi to make it, it is a risky move to take them home.
First of all, if Champi surives being taken home and being brought into a new environment they might release spores as a way to reproduce. Which means the fungus can spread through your home if there is any decaying or dead organic material. Which can be a huge problem.
Even if your were to remove the fruit bodies the mycelium could still be growing anywhere in dead or decaying organic material, so you would need to use proper fungicide/mycocide which can be expensive especially if it is a hardy fungus. Of course in this case I am describing the worst case scenario, I do not mean to cause worry.
HOWEVER, if you can take the piece of furniture, in which the mycelium has grown, home with you and can put it in a controlled space (akin to some kind of lab or a mini-lab, maybe in a securely closed plastic bag depending on the size of the piece of furniture) you might be able to grow it and care for it, but that can still be difficult and expensive.
Shortly, there are definitely risks if you take Champi home with you. You can minimise the risks by growing them in a controlled space but that can be expensive, just like that growing them in an open space and risking an infection can be expensive.
It would be cheaper to leave Champi be, but if you have enough motivation and you can afford to care for them, I suppose you could take them home. If you cannot care for them, you could cut of a piece of the fruitbody and if it has gills you could make a spore print to remember Champi by:)
A tip for making a spore print: if you make it on paper, set the spores with hairspray.
I must say that I am not entirely sure how easily this fungus reproduces and spreads because I am still uncertain of which species it is.
If you have any further questions let me know:)
I am curious to know what will happen to Champi.
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@belis86 Another part to the mushroom saga and Champi lore:)
In my workplace there's a mushroom? Fungi? Coworker? So im keeping check on its growth, since I have to maintain my Sanity in hell somehow. Their name is 'Champi'
In case someone know what this fellow coworker is, any information is apreciated.
They grow the white parte first, then the brown parte grows and the other gets small, and so on.
History of my mushroom coworker
Some months ago I thought it was a piece of wood on the really broken furniture, but then it kept growing so hold on its not wood, then it got bigger and had three pointy ends, and had spots, but then the cleaning lady wiped it with bleach, and they "died".
But now they are back, and there is a Lot More, so here se ate documenting it lol