Clitocybe glacialis
Encyclopedia
Clitocybe glacialis is a species of mushroom
in the family Tricholomataceae
. Formerly known as Lyophyllum montanum, this is a snowbank mushroom
, always associated with melting snow along snowbanks. Originally described by in 1957, this North American species is typically found growing under conifers on mountains.
in Wyoming
by mycologist Harry D. Thiers
. In 1957, Alexander H. Smith
, who had received the specimen from Thiers, described it as Lyophyllum montanum, placing it in the Lyophyllum
genus because of its dark gray color and gills that became ash-gray (cinereous) with age. However, it later became clear that this species lacked siderophilous granules—particles that darken when heated in acetocarmine—a trait characteristic of other Lyophyllum species. For this reason, Redhead et al. in 2000 moved the species to the genus Clitocybe as C. glacialis (Clitocybe montana was already used). They speculated that the dark pigmentation may be an adaptation to protect against the higher levels of ultraviolet radiation present in their montane
environments.
produced by this fungus have caps
that are 2 to 6.5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 2.6 in) in diameter; the shape is convex to flattened. The cap surface is initially a silvery-gray (defined as canescent), but becomes yellow or yellow-brown with age. Younger specimens may have a whitish surface bloom which may slough off in age.The gills are gray or dark gray, and closely spaced together; the attachment to the stem is adnate (broadly attached to the stem slightly above the bottom of the gill) to almost free (unattached to the stem). The stem
is 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) long by 0.5 to 1.5 cm (0.196850393700787 to 0.590551181102362 in) thick, and roughly the same width throughout, or slightly enlarged at the base.
, the spores appear white. Microscopically, the spores
are smooth-walled, elliptical or oblong, with dimensions of 5.5–7 by 3.5–4.5 µm
.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
in the family Tricholomataceae
Tricholomataceae
The Tricholomataceae are a large family of mushrooms within the Agaricales. A classic "wastebasket taxon", the Tricholomataceae is inclusive of any white-, yellow-, or pink-spored genera in the Agaricales not already classified as belonging to the Amanitaceae, Lepiotaceae, Hygrophoraceae,...
. Formerly known as Lyophyllum montanum, this is a snowbank mushroom
Snowbank fungus
A snowbank fungus is any one of a number of diverse species of fungi that occur adjacent to or within melting snow. They are most commonly found in the mountains of western North America where a deep snowpack accumulates during the winter and slowly melts through the spring and summer, often...
, always associated with melting snow along snowbanks. Originally described by in 1957, this North American species is typically found growing under conifers on mountains.
Taxonomy
The original specimen was collected in the Medicine Bow MountainsMedicine Bow Mountains
The Medicine Bow Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains that extend for from northern Colorado into southern Wyoming. The northern extent of this range is the sub-range the Snowy Range...
in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
by mycologist Harry D. Thiers
Harry D. Thiers
Harry Delbert Thiers, born January 22, 1919 in Fort McKavett, Texas, died August 8, 2000 in Ohio, was an American mycologist who studied and named a great many fungi of native to North America, particularly California. Thiers taught mycology at San Francisco State University for many years, and a...
. In 1957, Alexander H. Smith
Alexander H. Smith
Alexander Hanchett Smith was an American mycologist known for his extensive contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi, especially the agarics.-Early life:...
, who had received the specimen from Thiers, described it as Lyophyllum montanum, placing it in the Lyophyllum
Lyophyllum
Lyophyllum is a genus of about 40 species of fungi, widespread in north temperate regions.-Species:*Lyophyllum connatum*Lyophyllum decastes*Lyophyllum eustygium*Lyophyllum favrei*Lyophyllum fumosum*Lyophyllum gangraenosum...
genus because of its dark gray color and gills that became ash-gray (cinereous) with age. However, it later became clear that this species lacked siderophilous granules—particles that darken when heated in acetocarmine—a trait characteristic of other Lyophyllum species. For this reason, Redhead et al. in 2000 moved the species to the genus Clitocybe as C. glacialis (Clitocybe montana was already used). They speculated that the dark pigmentation may be an adaptation to protect against the higher levels of ultraviolet radiation present in their montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
environments.
Description
Fruit bodiesBasidiocarp
In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome or basidioma , is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not produce such structures...
produced by this fungus have caps
Pileus (mycology)
The pileus is the technical name for the cap, or cap-like part, of a basidiocarp or ascocarp that supports a spore-bearing surface, the hymenium. The hymenium may consist of lamellae, tubes, or teeth, on the underside of the pileus...
that are 2 to 6.5 cm (0.78740157480315 to 2.6 in) in diameter; the shape is convex to flattened. The cap surface is initially a silvery-gray (defined as canescent), but becomes yellow or yellow-brown with age. Younger specimens may have a whitish surface bloom which may slough off in age.The gills are gray or dark gray, and closely spaced together; the attachment to the stem is adnate (broadly attached to the stem slightly above the bottom of the gill) to almost free (unattached to the stem). The stem
Stipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
is 3 to 7 cm (1.2 to 2.8 in) long by 0.5 to 1.5 cm (0.196850393700787 to 0.590551181102362 in) thick, and roughly the same width throughout, or slightly enlarged at the base.
Microscopic characteristics
Viewed in deposit, such as with a spore printSpore 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 appear white. Microscopically, the spores
Basidiospore
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are produced by specialized fungal cells called basidia. In grills under a cap of one common species in the phylum of...
are smooth-walled, elliptical or oblong, with dimensions of 5.5–7 by 3.5–4.5 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...
.
Similar species
Clitocybe albirhiza is a brown colored mushroom with similar stature, but it may be distinguished by the white rhizomorphs at the base of its stem, as well as fibrils on the cap that are arranged in zones. Melanoleuca angelesiana is another species found in the same environment; mature specimens of both species resemble each other. They are easier to differentiate when young, however, as C. glacialis has a silvery-grey bloom that is lacking in M. angelesiana.Habitat and distribution
This mushroom is found at high elevations from late May until early August. It is referred to as a "snowbank mushroom" because fruit bodies typically appear around the edges of melting snowbanks. The species has been found in various locales in North America, including Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Alberta.External links
- Clitocybe glacialis at Index FungorumIndex FungorumIndex Fungorum, an international project to index all formal names in the Fungi Kingdom. Somewhat comparable to the IPNI, but with more contributing institutions....