Mycena cystidiosa
Encyclopedia
Mycena cystidiosa is a species of mushroom
in the Mycenaceae
family. Described as new to science in 1964, it is known only from New Zealand and Australia. The fruit bodies
have a broadly conical small white cap
up to 12 mm (0.47244094488189 in) wide, with distantly spaced cream-coloured gills on the underside. The stem
is particularly long, up to 20 cm (7.9 in), with an abundant covering of white hairs at the base. The species is known for its abundant rhizomorphs—long, root-like extensions of mycelia.
by Greta Stevenson in 1964 as Fayodia cystidiosa. She found the type specimen growing in leaf litter at the Wellington Botanic Garden
in June, 1949. It was transferred to the genus Mycena
by Egon Horak in a 1971 publication.
The fungus is classified in the section Metuloidiferae of the genus Mycena
.
is 6 – in diameter, and light brown with dark brown umbo
. It is indistinctly grooved and fluted with a somewhat velvety texture; the margin is paler and frilled. The flesh
is white beneath the umbo
, fawn above the gills. The gills are adnexed, cream
-coloured, some with dull pink stains. They are moderately distantly spaced apart, and covered with cystidia. The stem
is 6 – long by 1 – thick, although Australian specimens have been reported to grow as long as 20 cm (7.9 in). It is cream-coloured above and brown below, with a smooth surface. The stem is hollow, brittle, and covered densely with white hairs at the base. Extending from the stem base are numerous lengthy white rhizomorphs that can be up to 30 cm (11.8 in) long, and terminated by a small cap or knob. The rhizomorphs of are organized as linear strands of mycelia that are differentiated into an inner portion containing large diameter 'vessel' hypha
e, and an outer cortex of narrow, thick-walled hyphae. The cap at the end of the strand bears strongly resembles the developing cap of immature fruit bodies.
The spore
s are 9–10 by 7 µm
, amyloid
, thick-walled, with an inner wall resembling the mesh of a sieve. Although the spore surface is smooth, it appears rough because of the irregular shape of the inner wall. The type collection also contained half-sized spores, leading Stevenson to suggest that there may be two- and four-spored basidia. Cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia (cystidia on the edge and face, respectively, of the gills) are 25–40 by 8-13 µm, very abundant, thick-walled, and stain weakly amyloid in Melzer's reagent
.
s necessary for decomposing lignocellulosic biomass
. It is found in New Zealand and southwestern Australia. Australian mycologist Bruce Fuhrer calls it "possibly our tallest Mycena". The mushrooms generally fruit from April to June.
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
in the Mycenaceae
Mycenaceae
The Mycenaceae are a family of fungi in the order Agaricales. According to the Dictionary of the Fungi , the family contains 10 genera and 705 species. This is one of several families that were separated from the Tricholomataceae as a result of phylogenetic analyses...
family. Described as new to science in 1964, it is known only from New Zealand and Australia. 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...
have a broadly conical small white 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 12 mm (0.47244094488189 in) wide, with distantly spaced cream-coloured gills on the underside. 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 particularly long, up to 20 cm (7.9 in), with an abundant covering of white hairs at the base. The species is known for its abundant rhizomorphs—long, root-like extensions of mycelia.
Taxonomy
The species was originally describedSpecies description
A species description or type description is a formal description of a newly discovered species, usually in the form of a scientific paper. Its purpose is to give a clear description of a new species of organism and explain how it differs from species which have been described previously, or are...
by Greta Stevenson in 1964 as Fayodia cystidiosa. She found the type specimen growing in leaf litter at the Wellington Botanic Garden
Wellington Botanic Garden
The Wellington Botanic Garden, Wellington, New Zealand, covers 25 hectares of land on the side of the hill between Thorndon and Kelburn, near central Wellington....
in June, 1949. It was transferred to the genus 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...
by Egon Horak in a 1971 publication.
The fungus is classified in the section Metuloidiferae of the genus 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...
.
Description
The capPileus (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...
is 6 – in diameter, and light brown with dark brown 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...
. It is indistinctly grooved and fluted with a somewhat velvety texture; the margin is paler and frilled. 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 white beneath the 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...
, fawn above the gills. The gills are adnexed, cream
Cream (colour)
Cream is the colour of the cream produced by cattle grazing on natural pasture with plants rich in yellow carotenoid pigments, some of which are incorporated into the cream, to give a yellow tone to white. Cream is the pastel colour of yellow, much like as pink is to red. Cream is used as a skin...
-coloured, some with dull pink stains. They are moderately distantly spaced apart, and covered with cystidia. 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 6 – long by 1 – thick, although Australian specimens have been reported to grow as long as 20 cm (7.9 in). It is cream-coloured above and brown below, with a smooth surface. The stem is hollow, brittle, and covered densely with white hairs at the base. Extending from the stem base are numerous lengthy white rhizomorphs that can be up to 30 cm (11.8 in) long, and terminated by a small cap or knob. The rhizomorphs of are organized as linear strands of mycelia that are differentiated into an inner portion containing large diameter 'vessel' 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, and an outer cortex of narrow, thick-walled hyphae. The cap at the end of the strand bears strongly resembles the developing cap of immature fruit bodies.
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 9–10 by 7 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...
, amyloid
Amyloid (mycology)
In mycology the term amyloid refers to a crude chemical test using iodine in either Melzer's reagent or Lugol's solution, to produce a black to blue-black positive reaction. It is called amyloid because starch gives a similar reaction, and that reaction for starch is also called an amyloid reaction...
, thick-walled, with an inner wall resembling the mesh of a sieve. Although the spore surface is smooth, it appears rough because of the irregular shape of the inner wall. The type collection also contained half-sized spores, leading Stevenson to suggest that there may be two- and four-spored basidia. Cheilocystidia and pleurocystidia (cystidia on the edge and face, respectively, of the gills) are 25–40 by 8-13 µm, very abundant, thick-walled, and stain weakly amyloid in Melzer's reagent
Melzer's Reagent
Melzer's reagent is a chemical reagent used by mycologists to assist with the identification of fungi.-Composition:...
.
Habitat and distribution
Mycena cystidiosa is a saprobic fungus—meaning it obtains nutrients by breaking down decomposing plant organic matter. Although the mushrooms are usually found on fallen leaves, it also grows on wood, utilising the small branch litter common to eucalypt forests. The species may contain the enzymeEnzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
s necessary for decomposing lignocellulosic biomass
Lignocellulosic biomass
Lignocellulosic biomass refers to plant biomass that is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The carbohydrate polymers are tightly bound to the lignin...
. It is found in New Zealand and southwestern Australia. Australian mycologist Bruce Fuhrer calls it "possibly our tallest Mycena". The mushrooms generally fruit from April to June.
External links
- Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research Macro- and microscopic images