Entolomataceae
Encyclopedia
The Entolomataceae, also known as Rhodophyllaceae are a large family of pink spored terrestrial gilled mushrooms
which includes the genera Entoloma
, Rhodocybe
, and Clitopilus
. The family collectively contains over 1500 species, the large majority of which are in Entoloma. Genera formerly known as Leptonia and Nolanea, amongst others, have been subsumed into Entoloma. Mushrooms in the Entolomataceae typically grow in woodlands or grassy areas and have attached gills, differentiating them from the Pluteaceae
which have free gills.
, and species are common in both temperate
and tropical climates. Although the shape of the fruiting body and many microscopic characteristics are very diverse, it forms a well-defined group due to the distinctive spores:
The spore ornamentation is formed by a unique form of spore wall thickening, which is called the epicorium.
One notable member is the edible Miller mushroom (Clitopilus prunulus
). Many members of the Entolomataceae are poisonous and most are very obscure and difficult to identify properly. Examples are the poisonous type species
of Entoloma, Entoloma sinuatum
, found in Europe and North America, and E. rhodopolium
in Europe and Japan.
and Zdenek Pouzar in 1972. Although the family as a whole is quite well defined, many different internal classifications of the Entolomataceae have been proposed. Please see List of Entolomataceae genera for a table of the main genera which have been placed in this family at one time or another.
The current view is that Entolomataceae with angular (polyhedral) spores should be classified in genus Entoloma
, those with bumpy spores should be in Rhodocybe
, and those with longitudinally ridged spores should be put in Clitopilus
. This makes Entoloma an enormous genus, and in the past attempts have been made to split it up. In 1871, Paul Kummer created Eccilia, Leptonia
and Nolanea
to this end at the same time as Entoloma, but DNA studies show that these former groups are not natural (they are polyphyletic) and according to modern thinking they should not be accepted.
Furthermore, the study by Co-David et al. indicates that Rhodocybe and Clitopilus are not distinguishable as genera and need to be merged. Since the name Clitopilus has historical precedence, all the Rhodocybe species should in future be moved into Clitopilus.
Most surprising are the new genera Rhodocybella
, Rhodogaster, and Richoniella, the first being cyphelloid and the other two gasteroid
. They are rare and only contain a few species, but they are of great interest because although their body plan is superficially very different from that of the agarics which constitute the bulk of the family, recent studies have shown that they are closely related. The modern trend is even to move them into the same genera as the related agarics.
Agaricales
The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13000 described species, along with five extinct genera known only from the fossil record...
which includes the genera Entoloma
Entoloma
Entoloma is a large genus of terrestrial pink-gilled mushrooms, with about 1000 species. They have a drab appearance, pink gills which are attached to the stem, a smooth thick cap, and angular spores. Most entolomas are saprobic...
, Rhodocybe
Rhodocybe
Rhodocybe is a small genus of small and medium sized brownish-pink spored mushrooms. Rhodocybes are saprotrophic and most grow on the ground, but some are found on wood. Most are drab in appearance, though some have vivid colors. The cap shape can be convex, plane, or depressed...
, and Clitopilus
Clitopilus
Clitopilus is a genus of fungi in the family Entolomataceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in northern temperate areas. Although a 2008 estimate suggested about 30 species in the genus, a more recent publication using molecular phylogenetics has redefined the genus to include...
. The family collectively contains over 1500 species, the large majority of which are in Entoloma. Genera formerly known as Leptonia and Nolanea, amongst others, have been subsumed into Entoloma. Mushrooms in the Entolomataceae typically grow in woodlands or grassy areas and have attached gills, differentiating them from the Pluteaceae
Pluteaceae
The Pluteaceae are a family of small to medium-sized mushrooms which have free gill attachment and pink spores. Members of Pluteaceae can be mistaken for members of Entolomatacae but can be distinguished by their angled spores and attached gills...
which have free gills.
Description
The very large family Entolomataceae has a cosmopolitan distributionCosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a taxon is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution if its range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. For instance, the killer whale has a cosmopolitan distribution, extending over most of the world's oceans. Other examples include humans, the lichen...
, and species are common in both temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
and tropical climates. Although the shape of the fruiting body and many microscopic characteristics are very diverse, it forms a well-defined group due to the distinctive spores:
- the spore print is pink (or brownish or greyish pink) and
- the spores are ornamented with bumps or ridges, or have a sharp-pointed polygonal cross-section.
The spore ornamentation is formed by a unique form of spore wall thickening, which is called the epicorium.
One notable member is the edible Miller mushroom (Clitopilus prunulus
Clitopilus prunulus
Clitopilus prunulus, commonly known as the miller or the sweetbread mushroom, is an edible pink-spored basidiomycete mushroom found in grasslands in Europe. It has a grey to white cap and decurrent gills.-Description:...
). Many members of the Entolomataceae are poisonous and most are very obscure and difficult to identify properly. Examples are the poisonous type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of Entoloma, Entoloma sinuatum
Entoloma sinuatum
Entoloma sinuatum is a poisonous mushroom found across Europe and North America. Some guidebooks refer to it by its older scientific names of Entoloma lividum or Rhodophyllus sinuatus...
, found in Europe and North America, and E. rhodopolium
Entoloma rhodopolium
Entoloma rhodopolium, commonly known as the wood pinkgill, is a poisonous mushroom found in Europe and Asia. In fact, it is one of the three most commonly implicated fungi in cases of mushroom poisoning in Japan . E. rhodopolium is often mistaken for edible mushroom, E. sarcopum...
in Europe and Japan.
History and constituent genera
The family Entolomataceae was first defined by the Czech mycologists František KotlabaFrantišek Kotlaba
František Kotlaba is a Czech botanist and mycologist. His author abbreviation is Kotl. -Scientific career:...
and Zdenek Pouzar in 1972. Although the family as a whole is quite well defined, many different internal classifications of the Entolomataceae have been proposed. Please see List of Entolomataceae genera for a table of the main genera which have been placed in this family at one time or another.
The current view is that Entolomataceae with angular (polyhedral) spores should be classified in genus Entoloma
Entoloma
Entoloma is a large genus of terrestrial pink-gilled mushrooms, with about 1000 species. They have a drab appearance, pink gills which are attached to the stem, a smooth thick cap, and angular spores. Most entolomas are saprobic...
, those with bumpy spores should be in Rhodocybe
Rhodocybe
Rhodocybe is a small genus of small and medium sized brownish-pink spored mushrooms. Rhodocybes are saprotrophic and most grow on the ground, but some are found on wood. Most are drab in appearance, though some have vivid colors. The cap shape can be convex, plane, or depressed...
, and those with longitudinally ridged spores should be put in Clitopilus
Clitopilus
Clitopilus is a genus of fungi in the family Entolomataceae. The genus has a widespread distribution, especially in northern temperate areas. Although a 2008 estimate suggested about 30 species in the genus, a more recent publication using molecular phylogenetics has redefined the genus to include...
. This makes Entoloma an enormous genus, and in the past attempts have been made to split it up. In 1871, Paul Kummer created Eccilia, Leptonia
Leptonia
Leptonia is a genus of small and medium sized pink-spored mushrooms that contains over 100 species. Leptonias are saprotrophic and most grow on the ground, but some are found on wood. The cap is thin and can be convex, plane, often depressed and usually has small scales...
and Nolanea
Nolanea
Nolanea is a genus of small gray to brown pink-spored mushrooms which are mostly saprotrophic and grow on the ground. The cap can be conical, convex or umbonate in shape, often with a silky top. The gills have adnexed to adnate attachment and the stalk is fragile and often hollow. The spores...
to this end at the same time as Entoloma, but DNA studies show that these former groups are not natural (they are polyphyletic) and according to modern thinking they should not be accepted.
Furthermore, the study by Co-David et al. indicates that Rhodocybe and Clitopilus are not distinguishable as genera and need to be merged. Since the name Clitopilus has historical precedence, all the Rhodocybe species should in future be moved into Clitopilus.
Most surprising are the new genera Rhodocybella
Rhodocybella
Rhodocybella is a genus of cyphelloid fungi in the Entolomataceae family. It contains just one known species, Rhodocybella rhododendri, which is found in North America on Rhododendron stems after heavy rain....
, Rhodogaster, and Richoniella, the first being cyphelloid and the other two gasteroid
Gasteroid fungi
The gasteroid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota. Species were formerly placed in the obsolete class Gasteromycetes Fr. , or the equally obsolete order Gasteromycetales Rea, because they produce their spores inside their basidiocarps rather than on an outer surface...
. They are rare and only contain a few species, but they are of great interest because although their body plan is superficially very different from that of the agarics which constitute the bulk of the family, recent studies have shown that they are closely related. The modern trend is even to move them into the same genera as the related agarics.