Spinellus fusiger
Encyclopedia
Spinellus fusiger, commonly known as the bonnet mould, is a species of fungus
in the Zygomycota
phylum. It is a pin mold
that is characterized by erect sporangiophores (specialized hypha
e that bear a sporangium
) that are simple in structure, brown or yellowish-brown in color, and with branched aerial filaments that bear the zygospore
s. It grows as a parasitic mold on mushrooms, including several species from the genera Mycena
, including M. haematopus
, M. pura
, M. epipterygia, M. leptocephala
, and various Collybia
species, such as C. alkalivirens, C. luteifolia, C. dryophila, and C. butyracea. It has also been found growing on agaric
species in Amanita
, Gymnopus
, and Hygrophorus
.
in 1818 as Mucor rhombosporus, but he later conceded to making a mistake in examining the spores. Link
later suggested the name Mucor fusiger for the species, and it has been known under a variety of names, such as Mucor macrocarpus, Phycomyces agaricicola, Spinellus macrocarpus, and Spinellus rhombosporus. It was assigned its current name by French botanist Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1875.
, Spinellus fusiger grows throughout the cap
of the mushroom host, eventually breaking through to produce radiating reproductive stalks (sporangiophores) bearing minute, spherical, terminal spore-containing structures called sporangia. Ultimately, the spores in the sporangia are released after the breakdown of the outer sporangial wall, becoming passively dispersed to new locations via wind, water, and insects. The sporangia contain non-motile mitospores known as aplanospores. Like other Spinellus species, S. fusiger is homothallic
, a condition where sexual zygospores can be produced union of branches from the same mycelium and so can be produced by the growth from a single spore.
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...
in the Zygomycota
Zygomycota
Zygomycota, or zygote fungi, is a phylum of fungi. The name comes from zygosporangia, where resistant spherical spores are formed during sexual reproduction. Approximately 1060 species are known. They are mostly terrestrial in habitat, living in soil or on decaying plant or animal material...
phylum. It is a pin mold
Mucorales
The Mucorales is the largest and best studied order of Zygomycete fungi. Members of this order are sometimes called pin molds.-Systematics:...
that is characterized by erect sporangiophores (specialized hypha
Hypha
A hypha is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus, and also of unrelated Actinobacteria. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium; yeasts are unicellular fungi that do not grow as hyphae.-Structure:A hypha consists of one or...
e that bear a sporangium
Sporangium
A sporangium is an enclosure in which spores are formed. It can be composed of a single cell or can be multicellular. All plants, fungi, and many other lineages form sporangia at some point in their life cycle...
) that are simple in structure, brown or yellowish-brown in color, and with branched aerial filaments that bear the zygospore
Zygospore
A zygospore is a diploid reproductive stage in the life cycle of many fungi and protists. Zygospores are created by the nuclear fusion of haploid cells. In fungi, zygospores are termed chlamydospores and are formed after the fusion of hyphae of different mating types...
s. It grows as a parasitic mold on mushrooms, including several species from the genera Mycena
Mycena
Mycena is a large genus of small saprotrophic mushrooms that are rarely more than a few centimeters in width. They are characterized by a white spore print, a small conical or bell-shaped cap, and a thin fragile stem. Most are gray or brown, but a few species have brighter colors. Most have a...
, including M. haematopus
Mycena haematopus
Mycena haematopus, commonly known as the bleeding fairy helmet, the burgundydrop bonnet, or the bleeding Mycena, is a species of fungus in the Mycenaceae family, of the order Agaricales. It is widespread and common in Europe and North America, and has also been collected in Japan and Venezuela...
, M. pura
Mycena pura
Mycena pura, commonly known as the lilac bonnet, is a species of mushroom in the Mycenaceae family. First called Agaricus prunus in 1794 by Christian Hendrik Persoon, it was assigned its current name in 1871 by German Paul Kummer...
, M. epipterygia, M. leptocephala
Mycena leptocephala
Mycena leptocephala, commonly known as the nitrous bonnet, is a species of fungus in the Mycenaceae family. The mushrooms have conical grayish caps that reach up to in diameter, and thin fragile stems up to long. The gills are gray and distantly spaced. The spores are elliptical, typically...
, and various Collybia
Collybia
Collybia is a genus of mushrooms in the Tricholomataceae family. The genus has a widespread but rare distribution in north temperate areas, and contains three species that grow on the decomposing remains of other mushrooms....
species, such as C. alkalivirens, C. luteifolia, C. dryophila, and C. butyracea. It has also been found growing on agaric
Agaric
An agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus. "Agaric" can also refer to a basidiomycete species characterized by an agaric-type fruiting body...
species in Amanita
Amanita
The genus Amanita contains about 600 species of agarics including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide. This genus is responsible for approximately 95% of the fatalities resulting from mushroom poisoning, with the death cap accounting for about 50% on its own...
, Gymnopus
Gymnopus
Gymnopus is a genus of fungus in the Marasmiaceae family. The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 300 species.-Representative species:*Gymnopus dryophilus*Gymnopus fusipes*Gymnopus peronatus*Gymnopus semihirtipes...
, and Hygrophorus
Hygrophorus
Hygrophorus is a genus of agarics in the family Hygrophoraceae. Called "woodwaxes" in the UK or "waxy caps" in North America, basidiocarps are typically fleshy, often with slimy caps and lamellae that are broadly attached to decurrent...
.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by German naturalist Christian Gottfried EhrenbergChristian Gottfried Ehrenberg
Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg , German naturalist, zoologist, comparative anatomist, geologist, and microscopist, was one of the most famous and productive scientists of his time.- Early collections :...
in 1818 as Mucor rhombosporus, but he later conceded to making a mistake in examining the spores. Link
Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link
Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link was a German naturalist and botanist.Link was born at Hildesheim as a son of the minister August Heinrich Link , who taught him the love for nature through collection of 'natural objects'...
later suggested the name Mucor fusiger for the species, and it has been known under a variety of names, such as Mucor macrocarpus, Phycomyces agaricicola, Spinellus macrocarpus, and Spinellus rhombosporus. It was assigned its current name by French botanist Philippe Édouard Léon Van Tieghem in 1875.
Description
During the reproductive phase of its life cycleBiological life cycle
A life cycle is a period involving all different generations of a species succeeding each other through means of reproduction, whether through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction...
, Spinellus fusiger grows throughout the 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...
of the mushroom host, eventually breaking through to produce radiating reproductive stalks (sporangiophores) bearing minute, spherical, terminal spore-containing structures called sporangia. Ultimately, the spores in the sporangia are released after the breakdown of the outer sporangial wall, becoming passively dispersed to new locations via wind, water, and insects. The sporangia contain non-motile mitospores known as aplanospores. Like other Spinellus species, S. fusiger is homothallic
Homothallic
Homothallic refers to the possession, within a single organism, of the resources to reproduce sexually.It can be contrasted to heterothallic.It is often used to categorize fungi. In yeast, heterothallic cells have mating types a and α...
, a condition where sexual zygospores can be produced union of branches from the same mycelium and so can be produced by the growth from a single spore.
External links
- Fungi of Poland Picture of spores