Tricholoma pardinum
Encyclopedia
Tricholoma pardinum, commonly
known as spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma, tigertop or dirty trich, is a gilled mushroom
widely distributed across North America and Europe, as well as parts of Asia. It is generally found in beech
woodland in summer and autumn. It is an imposing mushroom with a pale grey cap
up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter with darker brownish or greyish scales, white gills and white or pale grey-brown ringless stalk
.
It is one of the more poisonous members of the genus Tricholoma and has been implicated in a number of episodes of mushroom poisoning
, probably because it is a large, attractive mushroom with a superficial resemblance to a number of edible
species as well as having a pleasant smell and taste. Ingesting T. pardinum even in small quantities causes a severe, persistent gastroenteritis
due to the presence of an as yet unknown mycotoxin
.
is a synonym
of T. pardinum seen in some European guidebooks, but has been applied in error to this species. The uncertainty was such that Czech mycologists Josef Herink and František Kotlaba
proposed in 1967 that both designations were incorrect, and proposed the new name T. pardalotum.
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon described this species as Agaricus myomyces var. pardinus in 1801, although he queried whether it was a distinct species. French mycologist
Lucien Quélet
reclassified it as a species in 1873, giving it its current binomial name. However, the German naturalist Jacob Christian Schäffer
had published Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam nascuntur Icones in 1762, in which he authored a mushroom he called Agaricus tigrinus. The illustration fit what we now know as Tricholoma pardinum, although the description is less clear. To confuse matters further, Elias Magnus Fries
used the name Agaricus tigrinus in his 1821 work Systema Mycologicum
, in accordance with Bulliard's 1782 description, which now corresponds with Lentinus tigrinus
.
The specific epithet pardinum is derived from the Latin
pardus 'leopard', referring to its mottle
d or spotted cap
. The generic
name derives from the Greek
trichos/τριχος 'hair' and loma/λωμα 'hem', 'fringe' or 'border'. It lies within the subgenus
Pardinicutis of Tricholoma, a grouping of similar species characterised by having greyish, brownish or pallid caps that are woolly or covered in small scales, spore
s with a length between 8 and 11 micrometre
s, and abundant clamp connection
s in the hypha
e. Molecular analyses suggests that T. pardinum is closely related to T. huronense
, T. mutabile
, and T. venenatum
.
Tricholoma pardinum is commonly
known as striped tricholoma, spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma, poison trich, or tigertop. Dirty trich was a name coined by author Gary H. Lincoff in response to a publisher's request for a more accessible name than its binomial one, for North American guidebooks.
Tricholoma pardinum var. filamentosum is an uncommon variety with a more fibrillose cap and stalk which was described by Carlo Luciano Alessio in 1983. It is found in southern Europe, where it is associated with chestnut and spruce trees.
is a medium-sized mushroom, with a cap
6–10 cm (2½–4 in) in diameter, though larger specimens occasionally reach 15 cm (6 in). The cap is initially hemispherical before flattening with maturity, and has a broad, shallow umbo
. The cap margin is initially curled inwards but it uncurls as it matures. The cap surface is silvery-grey and covered with concentrically-patterned darker scales of a grey, brown or blackish colour that grow paler toward the cap margin. The gills are free (unattached to the stalk
), white and thick, may have a yellow or greenish tint, and may drip water, as may the top of the stalk when broken. With age, the gill edges can become jagged and rough. The gill spacing is rather variable, ranging from distant to crowded; typically, between 100–120 gills extend fully from the stalk to the edge of the cap, with a variable number of lamellulae (shorter gills not extending fully from stalk to cap margin).
The stout stalk may be white, pale grey or pale brown and is thicker at the base. The texture of the stalk surface ranges from fibrillose (appearing to be made of coarse fibers arranged longitudinally) to more or less smooth, and the stalk base will stain a dirty brown to yellow colour when bruised. It is 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) high and 1.5 to 2 cm (0.590551181102362 to 0.78740157480315 in) wide, with the base 2.5 to 4 cm (0.984251968503937 to 1.6 in) in diameter, and turn a dirty yellowish colour when bruised. There is no ring
or volva
. The flesh
is whitish and has a pleasant mealy smell and taste. Variety filamentosum has a mealy odour and taste reminiscent of cucumber.
The spore print
is white, and the oval to oblong spore
s are 7.5–9.5 μm
long by 5–7 μm wide. Spores have a prominent hilum
. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are cylindrical to club-shaped, four-spored, and measure 39–50 by 8.0–9.6 μm. The cap cuticle
ranges in cellular form from a cutis (where the hyphae bent-over, running parallel to the cap surface) to a trichoderm (with hyphae emerging roughly parallel, like hairs, perpendicular to the cap surface); the hyphae comprising the cuticle are cylindrical, and measure 2–9 μm wide with a club-shaped tip up to 11 μm wide.
grey-capped members of the genus Tricholoma, and some authorities recommend leaving all grey-capped Tricholoma species for the experienced mushroomers. The smaller T. terreum
lacks a mealy smell and cap scales, is darker-coloured and less robust, and has smaller spores measuring 5–7.5 by 4–5 μm. T. orirubens
has fine dark scales and pinkish gills. T. myomyces
is smaller than T. pardinum, has a thin, fibrous partial veil on young specimens, and elliptical spores measuring 5–6 by 3.5–4.0 μm. The edible T. argyraceum
is similar in appearance but with finer scales. The edible and highly regarded T. portentosum
is of a similar size, though has a uniform grey cap which is never scaled. In North America, it can be confused with T. nigrum
and T. virgatum
which have more streaked rather than spotted caps. A form of T. pardinum in North America can be nearly white with pale scales, and confused with the whitish edible species T. resplendens
. Microscopically, the presence of clamp connection
s sets it apart from most other members of the genus, although the similar-looking (though more tan-coloured) T. venenatum
also has them. According to Alexander H. Smith
, T. huronense
is closely related, but can be distinguished by forming drops of reddish liquid on the gills and stalk, narrower gills, and a cinereous (resembling ashes) and scaly stalk surface.
in eastern France. It is found in Belgium and Germany, but has not been recorded from the Netherlands, or the British Isles. A historical record from Estonia has been discarded. In Asia, it has been recorded from İzmir Province
in southwestern Turkey, China, and Sado Island
in Japan. It is found widely across temperate
North America, as far south as Santa Cruz County
and Sierra Nevada in central California
in the west of the continent, and to the central Appalachians in the east. It is commonly associated with conifers in the Rocky Mountains
and Pacific Northwest
, and with tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and madrone (Arbutus
spp.) in California. It can be very abundant in some years, especially warmer years with higher rainfall, yet missing or rare for several years in between. In Europe, it is found on chalky soil in woodland with beech
and fir
in summer and autumn, where it prefers areas of some elevation. It may be found in groups or fairy ring
s.
in the first half of the 20th century. Many cases of poisoning arise in the Jura Mountains. Eating it results in highly unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea
, dizziness
, vomiting
and diarrhea
. These arise 15 minutes to 2 hours after consumption, and may persist for 4 to 6 days. Sweating
and anxiety
may be evident, and disturbance in liver
function has been recorded. In one case, seven people and a cat suffered severe symptoms after sharing a meal that contained only two mushroom caps. The identity of the toxin is unknown.
These symptoms may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization. Treatment is supportive; antispasmodic
medicines may lessen colicky abdominal cramps and activated charcoal may be administered early on to bind residual toxin. Intravenous fluids
may be required if dehydration
has been extensive, especially with children and the elderly. Metoclopramide
may be used in cases of recurrent vomiting once gastric contents are emptied.
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
known as spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma, tigertop or dirty trich, is a gilled mushroom
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...
widely distributed across North America and Europe, as well as parts of Asia. It is generally found in beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
woodland in summer and autumn. It is an imposing mushroom with a pale grey 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...
up to 10 cm (4 in) in diameter with darker brownish or greyish scales, white gills and white or pale grey-brown ringless stalk
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...
.
It is one of the more poisonous members of the genus Tricholoma and has been implicated in a number of episodes of mushroom poisoning
Mushroom poisoning
Mushroom poisoning refers to harmful effects from ingestion of toxic substances present in a mushroom. These symptoms can vary from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to death. The toxins present are secondary metabolites produced in specific biochemical pathways in the fungal cells...
, probably because it is a large, attractive mushroom with a superficial resemblance to a number of edible
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...
species as well as having a pleasant smell and taste. Ingesting T. pardinum even in small quantities causes a severe, persistent gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water...
due to the presence of an as yet unknown mycotoxin
Mycotoxin
A mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus kingdom, commonly known as molds. The term ‘mycotoxin’ is usually reserved for the toxic chemical products produced by fungi that readily colonize crops...
.
Taxonomy
Tricholoma pardinum has had a confused taxonomic history for over two hundred years. Tricholoma tigrinumTricholoma tigrinum
Tricholoma pardinum is a gilled mushroom. First described under the name Agaricus tigrinus by Jacob Christian Schäffer in 1774, the species was transferred to the genus Tricholoma in 1871 by Paul Kummer....
is a synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
of T. pardinum seen in some European guidebooks, but has been applied in error to this species. The uncertainty was such that Czech mycologists Josef Herink and František Kotlaba
František Kotlaba
František Kotlaba is a Czech botanist and mycologist. His author abbreviation is Kotl. -Scientific career:...
proposed in 1967 that both designations were incorrect, and proposed the new name T. pardalotum.
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon described this species as Agaricus myomyces var. pardinus in 1801, although he queried whether it was a distinct species. French mycologist
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
Lucien Quélet
Lucien Quélet
thumb|Lucien QuéletLucien Quélet was a French mycologist and naturalist who discovered several species and was the founder of the Société mycologique de France, a society devoted to mycological studies....
reclassified it as a species in 1873, giving it its current binomial name. However, the German naturalist Jacob Christian Schäffer
Jacob Christian Schäffer
Jakob or Jacob Christian Gottlieb Schäffer or Schäffern was a German dean, professor, botanist, mycologist, entomologist, ornithologist and inventor.-Biography:...
had published Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam nascuntur Icones in 1762, in which he authored a mushroom he called Agaricus tigrinus. The illustration fit what we now know as Tricholoma pardinum, although the description is less clear. To confuse matters further, Elias Magnus Fries
Elias Magnus Fries
-External links:*, Authors of fungal names, Mushroom, the Journal of Wild Mushrooming.*...
used the name Agaricus tigrinus in his 1821 work Systema Mycologicum
Systema Mycologicum
Systema Mycologicum is a systematic classification of fungi drawn up in 1821 by the Swedish mycologist and botanist Elias Fries. It took 11 years to complete....
, in accordance with Bulliard's 1782 description, which now corresponds with Lentinus tigrinus
Lentinus tigrinus
Lentinus tigrinus is a mushroom in the Polyporaceae family.- External links :* at Index Fungorum...
.
The specific epithet pardinum 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...
pardus 'leopard', referring to its mottle
Mottle
Mottle or mottling is the appearance of uneven spots. It is commonly used to describe plants or the skin of animals. In plants, mottling usually consists of yellowish spots on plants, and is usually a sign of disease or malnutrition...
d or spotted 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...
. The generic
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...
name derives from the Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
trichos/τριχος 'hair' and loma/λωμα 'hem', 'fringe' or 'border'. It lies within the subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Pardinicutis of Tricholoma, a grouping of similar species characterised by having greyish, brownish or pallid caps that are woolly or covered in small scales, 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 with a length between 8 and 11 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 abundant clamp connection
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...
s in 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. Molecular analyses suggests that T. pardinum is closely related to T. huronense
Tricholoma huronense
Tricholoma huronense is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It was first described in 1942 by American mycologist Alexander H. Smith based on collections made in Michigan....
, T. mutabile
Tricholoma mutabile
Tricholoma mutabile is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. Found in Yuba County, California, it was first described scientifically in 1996. It has a grayish convex cap that is wide, a white stalk measuring long by thick. The white gills are sinuate, and turn pale golden brown in maturity....
, and T. venenatum
Tricholoma venenatum
Tricholoma venenatum is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It was first described scientifically by American mycologist George F. Atkinson in 1908....
.
Tricholoma pardinum is commonly
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
known as striped tricholoma, spotted tricholoma, tiger tricholoma, poison trich, or tigertop. Dirty trich was a name coined by author Gary H. Lincoff in response to a publisher's request for a more accessible name than its binomial one, for North American guidebooks.
Tricholoma pardinum var. filamentosum is an uncommon variety with a more fibrillose cap and stalk which was described by Carlo Luciano Alessio in 1983. It is found in southern Europe, where it is associated with chestnut and spruce trees.
Description
The fruit bodyBasidiocarp
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...
is a medium-sized mushroom, with a 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...
6–10 cm (2½–4 in) in diameter, though larger specimens occasionally reach 15 cm (6 in). The cap is initially hemispherical before flattening with maturity, and has a broad, shallow umbo
Umbo (mycology)
thumb|right|[[Cantharellula umbonata]] has an umbo.thumb|right|The cap of [[Psilocybe makarorae]] is acutely papillate.An umbo is a raised area in the center of a mushroom cap. Caps that possess this feature are called umbonate. Umbos that are sharply pointed are called acute, while those that are...
. The cap margin is initially curled inwards but it uncurls as it matures. The cap surface is silvery-grey and covered with concentrically-patterned darker scales of a grey, brown or blackish colour that grow paler toward the cap margin. The gills are free (unattached to the stalk
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...
), white and thick, may have a yellow or greenish tint, and may drip water, as may the top of the stalk when broken. With age, the gill edges can become jagged and rough. The gill spacing is rather variable, ranging from distant to crowded; typically, between 100–120 gills extend fully from the stalk to the edge of the cap, with a variable number of lamellulae (shorter gills not extending fully from stalk to cap margin).
The stout stalk may be white, pale grey or pale brown and is thicker at the base. The texture of the stalk surface ranges from fibrillose (appearing to be made of coarse fibers arranged longitudinally) to more or less smooth, and the stalk base will stain a dirty brown to yellow colour when bruised. It is 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) high and 1.5 to 2 cm (0.590551181102362 to 0.78740157480315 in) wide, with the base 2.5 to 4 cm (0.984251968503937 to 1.6 in) in diameter, and turn a dirty yellowish colour when bruised. There is no ring
Annulus (mycology)
An annulus is the ring like structure sometimes found on the stipe of some species of mushrooms. The annulus represents the remaining part of the partial veil, after it has ruptured to expose the gills or other spore-producing surface. An annulus may be thick and membranous, or it may be cobweb-like...
or volva
Volva (mycology)
The volva is a mycological term to describe a cup-like structure at the base of a mushroom that is a remnant of the universal veil. This macrofeature is important in wild mushroom identification due to it being an easily observed, taxonomically significant feature which frequently signifies a...
. 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 whitish and has a pleasant mealy smell and taste. Variety filamentosum has a mealy odour and taste reminiscent of cucumber.
The spore print
Spore print
thumb|300px|right|Making a spore print of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea shown in composite: mushroom cap laid on white and dark paper; cap removed after 24 hours showing pinkish-tan spore print...
is white, and the oval to oblong 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 7.5–9.5 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...
long by 5–7 μm wide. Spores have a prominent hilum
Hilum (biology)
In botany, the hilum is a scar or mark left on a seed coat by the former attachment to the ovary wall or to the funiculus...
. The basidia (spore-bearing cells) are cylindrical to club-shaped, four-spored, and measure 39–50 by 8.0–9.6 μm. The cap cuticle
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....
ranges in cellular form from a cutis (where the hyphae bent-over, running parallel to the cap surface) to a trichoderm (with hyphae emerging roughly parallel, like hairs, perpendicular to the cap surface); the hyphae comprising the cuticle are cylindrical, and measure 2–9 μm wide with a club-shaped tip up to 11 μm wide.
Lookalike species
Tricholoma pardinum may be confused with several edibleEdible 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...
grey-capped members of the genus Tricholoma, and some authorities recommend leaving all grey-capped Tricholoma species for the experienced mushroomers. The smaller T. terreum
Tricholoma terreum
Tricholoma terreum, commonly known as the grey knight or dirty tricholoma, is a grey-capped edible mushroom of the large genus Tricholoma. It is found in coniferous woodlands in Europe, and has also been encountered under introduced pine trees in Australia...
lacks a mealy smell and cap scales, is darker-coloured and less robust, and has smaller spores measuring 5–7.5 by 4–5 μm. T. orirubens
Tricholoma orirubens
Tricholoma orirubens, commonly known as blushing tricholoma, is an edible gilled mushroom native to Europe. The grey-capped fruit bodies are generally found singly or in small groups in deciduous and coniferous woodland in autumn.-Taxonomy:...
has fine dark scales and pinkish gills. T. myomyces
Tricholoma myomyces
Tricholoma myomyces is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. The species was first described scientifically by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794 as Agaricus myomyces, and later transferred to the genus Tricholoma by Danish mycologist Jakob Emanuel Lange in 1933. It is found in Europe and...
is smaller than T. pardinum, has a thin, fibrous partial veil on young specimens, and elliptical spores measuring 5–6 by 3.5–4.0 μm. The edible T. argyraceum
Tricholoma argyraceum
Tricholoma argyraceum is a grey-capped edible mushroom of the large genus Tricholoma. It has been confused with the similar-looking Tricholoma scalpturatum.-Taxonomy:...
is similar in appearance but with finer scales. The edible and highly regarded T. portentosum
Tricholoma portentosum
Tricholoma portentosum, commonly known as the charbonnier, or sooty head in North America, is a grey-capped edible mushroom of the large genus Tricholoma...
is of a similar size, though has a uniform grey cap which is never scaled. In North America, it can be confused with T. nigrum
Tricholoma nigrum
Tricholoma nigrum is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. Known from Oregon, it was described as new to science in 1996....
and T. virgatum
Tricholoma virgatum
Tricholoma virgatum, commonly known as the ashen knight, is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It was first described scientifically as Agaricus virgatus by Elias Fries in 1818, and later transferred to the genus Tricholoma by Paul Kummer in 1871. It is found in the deciduous and coniferous...
which have more streaked rather than spotted caps. A form of T. pardinum in North America can be nearly white with pale scales, and confused with the whitish edible species T. resplendens
Tricholoma resplendens
Tricholoma resplendens is a fungus of the genus Tricholoma native to Europe and North America. It was originally described as Agaricus resplendens by Elias Magnus Fries in 1857, and was given its current name by Petter Adolf Karsten in 1876....
. Microscopically, the presence of clamp connection
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...
s sets it apart from most other members of the genus, although the similar-looking (though more tan-coloured) T. venenatum
Tricholoma venenatum
Tricholoma venenatum is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It was first described scientifically by American mycologist George F. Atkinson in 1908....
also has them. According to Alexander H. Smith
Alexander H. Smith
Alexander Hanchett Smith was an American mycologist known for his extensive contributions to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi, especially the agarics.-Early life:...
, T. huronense
Tricholoma huronense
Tricholoma huronense is a mushroom of the agaric genus Tricholoma. It was first described in 1942 by American mycologist Alexander H. Smith based on collections made in Michigan....
is closely related, but can be distinguished by forming drops of reddish liquid on the gills and stalk, narrower gills, and a cinereous (resembling ashes) and scaly stalk surface.
Distribution and habitat
Tricholoma pardinum is found across Europe, where it is more common in the south. It is abundant in the Jura MountainsJura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
in eastern France. It is found in Belgium and Germany, but has not been recorded from the Netherlands, or the British Isles. A historical record from Estonia has been discarded. In Asia, it has been recorded from İzmir Province
Izmir Province
İzmir Province is a province of Turkey in western Anatolia on the Aegean coast, whose capital is the city of İzmir. On the west it is surrounded by the Aegean sea, and it encloses the Gulf of İzmir. Its area is 11,973 km.2, population 3.948.848 . The population was 3,370,866 in 2000...
in southwestern Turkey, China, and Sado Island
Sado, Niigata
is a city located on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, in the Chūbu region of Japan. Since 2004, the city has comprised the entire island, although not all of its total area of 855.26 km2 is urbanized...
in Japan. It is found widely across 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...
North America, as far south as Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
and Sierra Nevada in central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the west of the continent, and to the central Appalachians in the east. It is commonly associated with conifers in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
and Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, and with tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus) and madrone (Arbutus
Arbutus
Arbutus is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America.-Description:...
spp.) in California. It can be very abundant in some years, especially warmer years with higher rainfall, yet missing or rare for several years in between. In Europe, it is found on chalky soil in woodland with beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
in summer and autumn, where it prefers areas of some elevation. It may be found in groups or fairy ring
Fairy ring
A fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring, is a naturally occurring ring or arc of mushrooms. The rings may grow to over in diameter, and they become stable over time as the fungus grows and seeks food underground. They are found mainly in forested areas, but...
s.
Toxicity
Tricholoma pardinum is one of several poisonous members of the genus Tricholoma; its large size, fleshy appearance, and pleasant smell and taste add to the risk of it being accidentally consumed. It was responsible for over 20% of cases of mushroom poisoning in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the first half of the 20th century. Many cases of poisoning arise in the Jura Mountains. Eating it results in highly unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, dizziness
Dizziness
Dizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. The term is somewhat imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness....
, vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
and diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. These arise 15 minutes to 2 hours after consumption, and may persist for 4 to 6 days. Sweating
Sweating
Perspiration is the production of a fluid consisting primarily of water as well as various dissolved solids , that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals...
and anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
may be evident, and disturbance in liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
function has been recorded. In one case, seven people and a cat suffered severe symptoms after sharing a meal that contained only two mushroom caps. The identity of the toxin is unknown.
These symptoms may be severe enough to warrant hospitalization. Treatment is supportive; antispasmodic
Antispasmodic
An antispasmodic is a drug or a herb that suppresses muscle spasms.-Smooth muscle spasm:One type of antispasmodics is used for smooth muscle contraction, especially in tubular organs of the gastrointestinal tract...
medicines may lessen colicky abdominal cramps and activated charcoal may be administered early on to bind residual toxin. Intravenous fluids
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
may be required if dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
has been extensive, especially with children and the elderly. Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide
Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and gastroprokinetic agent. It is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting, to facilitate gastric emptying in people with gastroparesis, and as a treatment for the gastric stasis often associated with migraine headaches.-Medical uses:Metoclopramide is commonly...
may be used in cases of recurrent vomiting once gastric contents are emptied.
External links
- Images Mushroom ObserverMushroom ObserverMushroom Observer is a collaborative amateur mycology website started by Nathan Wilson in 2006. Its purpose is to "record observations about mushrooms, help people identify mushrooms they aren’t familiar with, and expand the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms".As of 2010, the...