Strobilomyces foveatus
Encyclopedia
Strobilomyces foveatus is a little-known species of fungus
in the Boletaceae
family. It was first reported by mycologist E.J.H. Corner in 1972, from specimens he collected in Malaysia in 1959, and has since been found in Australia. Fruit bodies
are characterized by the small dark brown to black conical scales covering the cap
, and the net-like pattern of ridges on the upper stem. The roughly spherical spore
s measure about eight micrometre
s, and are densely covered with slender conical spines. The edibility
of this species is unknown.
, Malaysia in 1959. It was one of several new Strobilomyces
species he described in his monograph
of Malaysian Boletaceae—the others were S. annulatus, S. mirandus, and S. mollis.
The fungus is classified
in the section Strobilomyces of the genus Strobilomyces
. Species in this section are characterized by having spore
s that may be either smooth or with short spines or warts, ridges or reticulations. The ornamentation is reduced or absent in the suprahilar region (a depressed area near the hilar appendage). The specific epithet foveatus is derived from the Latin
adjective foveola, referring to a surface with pits or depressions.
of the fruit bodies
are between 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) wide, with a convex shape. The cap surface is covered with dark brown to black erect scales between 1.5–3 by 1.5–2.5 mm. The stem
is up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long; it is 1.2 cm (0.47244094488189 in) thick at the top, and 1.5 cm (0.590551181102362 in) thick at the bottom. The surface of the upper stem is strongly reticulate (covered with a network-like pattern) with individual meshes about 2–4 mm wide and 1–2 mm deep. The pores on the underside of the cap are between 0.5–1 mm wide, dirty white then gray, and they bruise a brownish-black color. The tubes which make up the pores are up to 1.2 cm (0.47244094488189 in) long. The flesh
is thick and initially white, but will stain a brownish-black after exposure to the air.
The spore
s are 8–10 by 6.3–8.3 μm
, and densely covered with slender conical spines about 0.5 μm tall. The abundant pleurocystidia (large sterile cells found on gill faces) are thin-walled, measuring up to 90 μm long by 1–20 μm wide, and ventricose (with a swelling on one side), with a narrow appendage up to 20 μm by 4–8 μm. The hypha
e that make up the cap surface
and the warts are branched, loosely interwoven, and sooty colored; the unclamped
cells typically measure 17–45 by 9–26 μm. The surface of the stem is made of a compact mat of hyphae roughly 120 μm thick, that reduces to a sterile hymenium
in the upper part of the stem.
Corner notes that the species "may be identical" with Strobilomyces echinatus Beeli, an African species with spores that measure 9.5–13 by 6.3–8.3 μm.
Corner collected specimens growing in humus on the forest floor, in Bako National Park
(1°43′N 110°28′E) in Sarawak
, Malaysia, in northern Borneo
. It has also been collected from southern Queensland
in Australia. Although it is not known definitively for Strobilomyces foveatus, all Strobilomyces species are suspected to be mycorrhiza
l.
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 Boletaceae
Boletaceae
Boletaceae are a family of mushrooms, primarily characterized by developing their spores in small pores on the underside of the mushroom, instead of gills, as are found in agarics. Nearly as widely distributed as agarics, they include the Cep or King Bolete , much sought after by mushroom hunters...
family. It was first reported by mycologist E.J.H. Corner in 1972, from specimens he collected in Malaysia in 1959, and has since been found in Australia. Fruit bodies
Basidiocarp
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...
are characterized by the small dark brown to black conical scales covering 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...
, and the net-like pattern of ridges on the upper stem. The roughly spherical 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 measure about eight micrometre
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...
s, and are densely covered with slender conical spines. 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...
of this species is unknown.
Taxonomy and classification
Strobilomyces foveatus was first described scientifically by mycologist E.J.H. Corner in 1972, from specimens collected in SarawakSarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia in 1959. It was one of several new Strobilomyces
Strobilomyces
Strobilomyces is a genus of boletes . The only well-known European species is the type species S. strobilaceus Strobilomyces is a genus of boletes (mushrooms having a spongy mass of pores under the cap). The only well-known European species is the type species S. strobilaceus Strobilomyces is a...
species he described in his monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
of Malaysian Boletaceae—the others were S. annulatus, S. mirandus, and S. mollis.
The fungus is classified
Biological classification
Biological classification, or scientific classification in biology, is a method to group and categorize organisms by biological type, such as genus or species. Biological classification is part of scientific taxonomy....
in the section Strobilomyces of the genus Strobilomyces
Strobilomyces
Strobilomyces is a genus of boletes . The only well-known European species is the type species S. strobilaceus Strobilomyces is a genus of boletes (mushrooms having a spongy mass of pores under the cap). The only well-known European species is the type species S. strobilaceus Strobilomyces is a...
. Species in this section are characterized by having 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 that may be either smooth or with short spines or warts, ridges or reticulations. The ornamentation is reduced or absent in the suprahilar region (a depressed area near the hilar appendage). The specific epithet foveatus is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective foveola, referring to a surface with pits or depressions.
Description
The capsPileus (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 fruit bodies
Basidiocarp
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...
are between 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 in) wide, with a convex shape. The cap surface is covered with dark brown to black erect scales between 1.5–3 by 1.5–2.5 mm. 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 up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long; it is 1.2 cm (0.47244094488189 in) thick at the top, and 1.5 cm (0.590551181102362 in) thick at the bottom. The surface of the upper stem is strongly reticulate (covered with a network-like pattern) with individual meshes about 2–4 mm wide and 1–2 mm deep. The pores on the underside of the cap are between 0.5–1 mm wide, dirty white then gray, and they bruise a brownish-black color. The tubes which make up the pores are up to 1.2 cm (0.47244094488189 in) long. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
is thick and initially white, but will stain a brownish-black after exposure to the air.
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 8–10 by 6.3–8.3 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...
, and densely covered with slender conical spines about 0.5 μm tall. The abundant pleurocystidia (large sterile cells found on gill faces) are thin-walled, measuring up to 90 μm long by 1–20 μm wide, and ventricose (with a swelling on one side), with a narrow appendage up to 20 μm by 4–8 μm. The 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 make up the cap surface
Pileipellis
thumb|300px||right|The cuticle of some mushrooms, such as [[Russula mustelina]] shown here, can be peeled from the cap, and may be useful as an identification feature....
and the warts are branched, loosely interwoven, and sooty colored; the unclamped
Clamp connection
A clamp connection is a structure formed by growing hyphal cells of certain fungi. It is created to ensure each septum, or segment of hypha separated by crossed walls, receives a set of differing nuclei, which are obtained through mating of hyphae of differing sexual types...
cells typically measure 17–45 by 9–26 μm. The surface of the stem is made of a compact mat of hyphae roughly 120 μm thick, that reduces to a sterile hymenium
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
in the upper part of the stem.
Corner notes that the species "may be identical" with Strobilomyces echinatus Beeli, an African species with spores that measure 9.5–13 by 6.3–8.3 μm.
Habitat and distribution
Bako National Park
Bako National Park, established in 1957, is the oldest national park in Sarawak, eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It covers an area of at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula at the mouth of the Bako and Kuching Rivers. It is approximately by road from Kuching...
(1°43′N 110°28′E) in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, Malaysia, in northern Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. It has also been collected from southern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in Australia. Although it is not known definitively for Strobilomyces foveatus, all Strobilomyces species are suspected to be mycorrhiza
Mycorrhiza
A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant....
l.