Clavaria zollingeri
Encyclopedia
Clavaria zollingeri, commonly known as the violet coral or the magenta coral, is a widely distributed species
of fungus
. It produces tubular, purple basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that grow in clusters up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide. It is a typical member of the clavarioid or club fungi. Clavaria zollingeri is a saprobic species, growing on the ground in woodland litter
.
in 1846. It was named after German mycologist Heinrich Zollinger, who researched the genus Clavaria
. Clavaria lavandula, named by Charles Horton Peck
in 1910, is a synonym
. The mushroom is commonly
known as the "violet coral", or the "magenta coral".
, the spores (produced on the surface of the branches) are white. It has no distinguishable odor, and its taste is somewhat like radishes. The edibility
is unknown for this species.
The spore
s are roughly spherical to broadly elliptic, and have dimensions of 4–7 by 3–5 μm
. The basidia
(spore-bearing cells) do not have clamps, and measure 50–60 by 7–9 μm.
species. In Alloclavaria purpurea
, the branching is reduced and the color usually a duller purple.
trees. It is a saprobic species, deriving nutrients by breaking down organic matter. It has a widespread distribution, and has been found in Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia (including Brunei and Korea). It is listed in the Danish Regional Red List
of threatened species.
s, a class of protein
s that bind specific carbohydrate
s on the surface of cells, causing them to clump together. A Korean study demonstrated that extracts of the fungus caused lymphoagglutination, a specific form of agglutination
that involves white blood cells. In general, lectins are used in blood typing and serology
, and they are widely used in affinity chromatography
for purifying proteins
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
. It produces tubular, purple basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that grow in clusters up to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall and 7 cm (2.8 in) wide. It is a typical member of the clavarioid or club fungi. Clavaria zollingeri is a saprobic species, growing on the ground in woodland litter
Forest floor
The forest floor, also called detritus, duff and the O horizon, is one of the most distinctive features of a forest ecosystem. It mainly consists of shed vegetative parts, such as leaves, branches, bark, and stems, existing in various stages of decomposition above the soil surface...
.
Taxonomy
The species was first described scientifically by French mycologist Joseph-Henri LéveilléJoseph-Henri Léveillé
Joseph-Henri Léveillé was a French physician and mycologist who was a native of Crux-la-Ville, in the department of Nièvre....
in 1846. It was named after German mycologist Heinrich Zollinger, who researched the genus Clavaria
Clavaria
Clavaria is a genus of fungi in the family Clavariaceae. Species of Clavaria produce basidiocarps that are either cylindrical to club-shaped or branched and coral-like. They are often grouped with similar-looking species from other genera, when they are collectively known as the clavarioid fungi...
. Clavaria lavandula, named by Charles Horton Peck
Charles Horton Peck
Charles Horton Peck, born March 30, 1833 in Sand Lake, New York, died 1917 in Albany, New York, was an American mycologist of the 19th and early 20th centuries...
in 1910, is a synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
. The mushroom is commonly
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
known as the "violet coral", or the "magenta coral".
Description
The fungus produces fruit bodies with a color ranging from violet to amethyst, and dimensions typically 5 to 10 cm (2 to 3.9 in) tall and 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) wide. The stem, or base, is short, and the branching starts a short distance above the ground. In massSpore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
, the spores (produced on the surface of the branches) are white. It has no distinguishable odor, and its taste is somewhat like radishes. The edibility
Edible mushroom
Edible mushrooms are the fleshy and edible fruiting bodies of several species of fungi. Mushrooms belong to the macrofungi, because their fruiting structures are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. They can appear either below ground or above ground where they may be picked by hand...
is unknown for this species.
The spore
Spore
In biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many bacteria, plants, algae, fungi and some protozoa. According to scientist Dr...
s are roughly spherical to broadly elliptic, and have dimensions of 4–7 by 3–5 μm
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
. The basidia
Basidium
thumb|right|500px|Schematic showing a basidiomycete mushroom, gill structure, and spore-bearing basidia on the gill margins.A basidium is a microscopic, spore-producing structure found on the hymenophore of fruiting bodies of basidiomycete fungi. The presence of basidia is one of the main...
(spore-bearing cells) do not have clamps, and measure 50–60 by 7–9 μm.
Similar species
Other lavender to violet-colored corals include Clavulina amethystinoides, which is so multiply branched so as to appear toothed, and Clavulina amethystina which can only be reliably distinguished by its two-spored basidia in comparison to the four-spored basidia of ClavariaClavaria
Clavaria is a genus of fungi in the family Clavariaceae. Species of Clavaria produce basidiocarps that are either cylindrical to club-shaped or branched and coral-like. They are often grouped with similar-looking species from other genera, when they are collectively known as the clavarioid fungi...
species. In Alloclavaria purpurea
Alloclavaria purpurea
Alloclavaria purpurea is a coral fungus commonly known as the purple coral, or the purple fairy club. Formerly known as Clavaria purpurea, it has been moved to its own genus as a result of phylogenetic analysis.-Description:...
, the branching is reduced and the color usually a duller purple.
Habitat and distribution
The fungus grows solitarily or in clusters on the ground and in grassy spots, usually near hardwoodHardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
trees. It is a saprobic species, deriving nutrients by breaking down organic matter. It has a widespread distribution, and has been found in Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia (including Brunei and Korea). It is listed in the Danish Regional Red List
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
of threatened species.
Bioactive compounds
Clavaria zollingeri contains lectinLectin
Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that are highly specific for their sugar moieties. They play a role in biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins. For example, some viruses use lectins to attach themselves to the cells of the host organism during infection...
s, a class of protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s that bind specific carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
s on the surface of cells, causing them to clump together. A Korean study demonstrated that extracts of the fungus caused lymphoagglutination, a specific form of agglutination
Agglutination (biology)
Agglutination is the clumping of particles. The word agglutination comes from the Latin agglutinare, meaning "to glue."This occurs in biology in three main examples:...
that involves white blood cells. In general, lectins are used in blood typing and serology
Serology
Serology is the scientific study of blood serum and other bodily fluids. In practice, the term usually refers to the diagnostic identification of antibodies in the serum...
, and they are widely used in affinity chromatography
Affinity chromatography
Affinity chromatography is a method of separating biochemical mixtures and based on a highly specific interaction such as that between antigen and antibody, enzyme and substrate, or receptor and ligand.-Uses:Affinity chromatography can be used to:...
for purifying proteins
Protein purification
Protein purification is a series of processes intended to isolate a single type of protein from a complex mixture. Protein purification is vital for the characterization of the function, structure and interactions of the protein of interest. The starting material is usually a biological tissue or...
.