Psathyrella
Encyclopedia
Psathyrella is a large genus
of about 400 fungi, and is similar to the genera Coprinellus
, Coprinopsis
, Coprinus
and Panaeolus
, usually with a thin cap
and white or yellowish white hollow stem
. But the caps do not self digest as do those of Coprinellus and Coprinopsis. Some also have brown spore
s rather than black. These fungi are often drab-colored, difficult to identify, and inedible, and so they are sometimes considered uninteresting. However they are quite common and can occur at times when there are few other mushrooms to be seen. The first report of a gilled mushroom fruiting underwater is Psathyrella aquatica
.
The name Psathyrella means strawlike or fragile.
(it can well be a translucent brown or ochre
colour in a humid state but a pure opaque white on drying out), and the spore size and the presence and nature of cheilocystidia, pleurocystidia and caulocystidia, distinctive sterile cells on the gill face, gill edge and stipe respectively.
series "Wild Food
", Gordon Hillman
related an incident where he was accidentally given a sample of Psathyrella instead of edible mushrooms. After consuming the mushrooms, Hillman drank a glass of beer and suffered an adverse reaction, suffering blue-and-white monochrome vision followed by memory problems and breathing difficulties. Hillman recovered after having his stomach pumped.
The looping memory problems Hillman experienced are similar to those caused by consumption of Amanita Pantherina.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of about 400 fungi, and is similar to the genera Coprinellus
Coprinellus
Coprinellus is a genus of mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae. The genus was first described by Petter Karsten in 1879.-External links:* at Index Fungorum...
, Coprinopsis
Coprinopsis
Coprinopsis is a genus of mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae. Coprinopsis was split out of the genus Coprinus based on molecular data. The species Coprinopsis cinerea is a model organism for mushroom-forming basidiomycota, and its genome has recently been sequenced completely....
, Coprinus
Coprinus
Coprinus is a small genus of mushrooms consisting of Coprinus comatus and several of its close relatives. Until 2001, Coprinus was a large genus consisting of all agaric species in which the lamellae autodigested to release their spores...
and Panaeolus
Panaeolus
Panaeolus is a genus of small, black-spored, saprotrophic agarics. The word Panaeolus is Greek for "all variegated", alluding to the spotted gills of the mushrooms produced.- Characteristics :...
, usually with a thin cap
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...
and white or yellowish white hollow 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...
. But the caps do not self digest as do those of Coprinellus and Coprinopsis. Some also have brown 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 rather than black. These fungi are often drab-colored, difficult to identify, and inedible, and so they are sometimes considered uninteresting. However they are quite common and can occur at times when there are few other mushrooms to be seen. The first report of a gilled mushroom fruiting underwater is Psathyrella aquatica
Psathyrella aquatica
Psathyrella aquatica is a species of fungus from Oregon, described in the journal Mycologia in 2010. It represents the first report of a gilled mushroom fruiting underwater. It was found by Southern Oregon University professor Robert Coffan in the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon...
.
The name Psathyrella means strawlike or fragile.
Characteristics
In order to identify the species it may be necessary to take into account the presence and nature of any veil remnants on cap (which may only be visible on very young fruiting bodies), the colour of young fruiting bodies, which is often more vivid than with older ones, whether the cap is hygrophanousHygrophanous
The adjective hygrophanous refers to the color change of mushroom tissue as it loses or absorbs water, which causes the pileipellis to become more transparent when wet and opaque when dry....
(it can well be a translucent brown or ochre
Ochre
Ochre is the term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as "red ochre". The more rarely used terms "purple ochre" and "brown ochre" also exist for variant hues...
colour in a humid state but a pure opaque white on drying out), and the spore size and the presence and nature of cheilocystidia, pleurocystidia and caulocystidia, distinctive sterile cells on the gill face, gill edge and stipe respectively.
Symptoms of Poisoning
In the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series "Wild Food
Wild Food
Wild Food is a documentary television series hosted by Ray Mears. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it is also shown on Discovery Channel in the United States, Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Russia. The show was first broadcast...
", Gordon Hillman
Gordon Hillman
Professor Gordon Hillman B.Sc is Honorary Visiting Professor in Archaeobotany at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London ....
related an incident where he was accidentally given a sample of Psathyrella instead of edible mushrooms. After consuming the mushrooms, Hillman drank a glass of beer and suffered an adverse reaction, suffering blue-and-white monochrome vision followed by memory problems and breathing difficulties. Hillman recovered after having his stomach pumped.
The looping memory problems Hillman experienced are similar to those caused by consumption of Amanita Pantherina.
Select Species
For complete list see List of Psathyrella species- Psathyrella ammophila (dune brittlestem)
- Psathyrella aquaticaPsathyrella aquaticaPsathyrella aquatica is a species of fungus from Oregon, described in the journal Mycologia in 2010. It represents the first report of a gilled mushroom fruiting underwater. It was found by Southern Oregon University professor Robert Coffan in the Rogue River in the U.S. state of Oregon...
- Psathyrella candolleanaPsathyrella candolleanaPsathyrella candolleana is a large mushroom commonly found on lawns or pasture. The coloring varies between white, golden and dark brown, however the shape is consistent: medium sized , conical when young; large, flat and sprawling with maturity....
(pale brittlestem) - Psathyrella corrugis (red edge brittlestem)
- Psathyrella piluliformis = Psathyrella hydrophila (common stump brittlestem)
External links
- The North American species of Psathyrella by Alexander H. Smith, 1972. (Full text of monograph.)