Tremella encephala
Encyclopedia
Tremella encephala is a species
of fungus
producing pink; brain-like, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies). It is widespread in north temperate
regions and is parasitic
on another species of fungus (Stereum sanguinolentum
), that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of conifers.
who had described the species from Germany as Tremella encephaliformis. In 1818, it was selected by Elias Magnus Fries
as the type species
of Naematelia, a new genus proposed by Fries to accommodate fungi having gelatinous basidiocarp
s with a hard or compact core. It was not until 1961 that this central core was shown by American mycologist Robert Bandoni to be the remains of the host fungus, Stereum sanguinolentum
.
The epithet encephala means "brain", with reference to the shape and colour of the basidiocarps.
and occur in a dense gelatinous matrix. Haustorial cells arise on the hyphae, producing filaments that attach to and penetrate the unclamped hyphae of the host (abundant in the central core). The basidia are tremelloid (spherical to ellipsoid, with oblique to vertical septa
), 13–20 by 12–17 μm
, usually unstalked. The basidiospores are mostly roughly spherical in shape, smooth, 6–11 by 5.5–9 μm, and germinate by hyphal tube or by yeast
cells.
, growing on and often completely enveloping host basidiocarps. Following its host, fruit bodies are typically found on dead, attached or recently fallen branches of conifers.
The species has a north temperate distribution and is known throughout North America, Europe, and northern Asia. It has also been recorded from Australia.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of fungus
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...
producing pink; brain-like, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies). It is widespread in north 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...
regions and is parasitic
Parasitism
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between organisms of different species where one organism, the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, the host. Traditionally parasite referred to organisms with lifestages that needed more than one host . These are now called macroparasites...
on another species of fungus (Stereum sanguinolentum
Stereum sanguinolentum
Stereum sanguinolentum is a species of fungus in the Stereaceae family. A plant pathogen, it causes red heart rot, a red discoloration on conifers, particularly spruce. Fruit bodies are produced on dead wood, or sometimes on dead branches of living trees. They are a thin leathery crust of the wood...
), that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of conifers.
Taxonomy
Tremella encephala was first published in 1801 by Dutch mycologist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon, based on an earlier description by Carl Ludwig WilldenowCarl Ludwig Willdenow
Carl Ludwig Willdenow was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants...
who had described the species from Germany as Tremella encephaliformis. In 1818, it was selected by Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
as the 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 Naematelia, a new genus proposed by Fries to accommodate fungi having gelatinous basidiocarp
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...
s with a hard or compact core. It was not until 1961 that this central core was shown by American mycologist Robert Bandoni to be the remains of the host fungus, Stereum sanguinolentum
Stereum sanguinolentum
Stereum sanguinolentum is a species of fungus in the Stereaceae family. A plant pathogen, it causes red heart rot, a red discoloration on conifers, particularly spruce. Fruit bodies are produced on dead wood, or sometimes on dead branches of living trees. They are a thin leathery crust of the wood...
.
The epithet encephala means "brain", with reference to the shape and colour of the basidiocarps.
Description
Fruit bodies are gelatinous, dull pale pink to yellowish pink, up to 3 cm (1 in) across, and brain-like (compact and densely folded) with a hard, whitish core when cut. Microscopically, the hyphae are clampedClamp 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...
and occur in a dense gelatinous matrix. Haustorial cells arise on the hyphae, producing filaments that attach to and penetrate the unclamped hyphae of the host (abundant in the central core). The basidia are tremelloid (spherical to ellipsoid, with oblique to vertical septa
Septum
In anatomy, a septum is a wall, dividing a cavity or structure into smaller ones.-In human anatomy:...
), 13–20 by 12–17 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...
, usually unstalked. The basidiospores are mostly roughly spherical in shape, smooth, 6–11 by 5.5–9 μm, and germinate by hyphal tube or by yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
cells.
Habitat and distribution
Tremella encephala is a parasite of Stereum sanguinolentumStereum sanguinolentum
Stereum sanguinolentum is a species of fungus in the Stereaceae family. A plant pathogen, it causes red heart rot, a red discoloration on conifers, particularly spruce. Fruit bodies are produced on dead wood, or sometimes on dead branches of living trees. They are a thin leathery crust of the wood...
, growing on and often completely enveloping host basidiocarps. Following its host, fruit bodies are typically found on dead, attached or recently fallen branches of conifers.
The species has a north temperate distribution and is known throughout North America, Europe, and northern Asia. It has also been recorded from Australia.